Lawmakers have called FIFA’s decision to revoke Balogun’s suspension following President Trump’s intervention “disgraceful.”
Published July 8, 2026
The European Parliament is calling for an investigation into president Gianni Infantino after FIFA’s unprecedented decision to overturn US striker Folarin Balogun’s World Cup suspension, raising questions about whether pressure from US President Donald Trump influenced the move.
A group of members of the European Parliament launched an initiative on Tuesday to call for an investigation into Infantino’s role in the decision, Euronews reported.
Recommended stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
A letter shared in the European Parliament called on football associations across the European Union to seek a formal review from FIFA into their decision-making processes and possible political interference.
Balogun, the United States’ leading scorer in the tournament, was shown a red card in the United States’ win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1 and would normally be forced to miss the next game.
However, FIFA lifted the suspension for Monday’s game against Belgium after President Trump called Infantino, a longtime friend.
FIFA said the decision was taken by a disciplinary committee.
This is the first time in modern World Cup history that a red card during the tournament did not result in suspension.
European soccer governing body UEFA condemned the decision, calling it “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjust.”
President Trump acknowledged asking FIFA to re-investigate Balogun’s case, saying the red card was “terrible,” but said he did not want an outcome and could not tell Infantino what to do.
“(The suspension) would have left a huge stain,” Trump said, adding that the United States and Belgium should have their best players for each game.
The USA lost 4-1 to Belgium and was eliminated from the World Cup.
“Perversion of Justice”
“FIFA’s decision to change the rules regarding suspensions for red cards mid-competition is a disgrace and a perversion of justice,” European Parliament members Barry Andrews, Lara Walters and Niels Fuglsang said in a joint statement.
“Once again we have seen Infantino and FIFA capitulate to the demands of the Trump administration,” the lawmakers said in a statement, adding that 35 of their colleagues have joined the petition so far.
“The beauty of sport is that it is based on fair and transparent rules. This sense of fairness is ignored when Coach Infantino allows political pressure to decide who plays,” they said.
Infantino defended his phone call with Trump, saying he told the president the matter would be handled by FIFA’s independent judiciary.
“This is how the FIFA system works and this is the principle that I always abide by,” Infantino said.
Swiss soccer administrators have a close relationship with President Trump, and last year awarded him the newly created FIFA Peace Prize.
