FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the independence of FIFA’s disciplinary bodies following public reactions to the Balogun suspension controversy.
In a statement shared by FIFA Media on X, Infantino said he had seen public comments regarding the decision of the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee on the suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun.
He stressed that FIFA’s judicial bodies operate independently. They apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code based on regulations and the facts before them.
“FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them,” Infantino said.
His comments came after United States President Donald Trump said he spoke with Infantino. Trump asked for a review of the decision involving Balogun.
Infantino confirmed that he received a call from Trump. However, he said he explained that the matter had entered a legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies.
“Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump,” he said.
The FIFA president added that he also receives calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives around the world on different issues.
However, Infantino insisted that the disciplinary process must follow FIFA’s rules, regardless of public pressure or personal opinions.
He said he reads decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when officials issue them. He added that he sometimes agrees with the decisions and sometimes disagrees.
“What I always do, however, is respect those decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them,” Infantino said.
He maintained that respect for independent institutions and the rule of law protects the credibility of FIFA competitions.
The Balogun suspension has continued to dominate discussion at the World Cup. This followed Trump praising FIFA’s decision to suspend the striker’s ban and allow him to feature for the United States.
Infantino’s statement appears aimed at addressing concerns over whether political pressure influenced FIFA’s handling of the case.
The FIFA president, however, insisted that the organisation’s disciplinary bodies must continue to work independently to protect the integrity of football.
