FIFA to review Balogun suspension and peace prize rules
FIFA is set to amend rules governing red-card suspensions at a meeting on Thursday, following a review of Folarin Balogun's eligibility during the World Cup. The association's president, Gianni Infantino, eight vice presidents, and 28 other members will convene for the first time since the tournament concluded. The agenda includes a reexamination of the decision that lifted Balogun's suspension before the United States Men's National Team's match against Belgium.
FIFA is set to amend rules governing red-card suspensions at a meeting on Thursday, following a review of Folarin Balogun's eligibility during the World Cup. The association's president, Gianni Infantino, eight vice presidents, and 28 other members will convene for the first time since the tournament concluded. The agenda includes a reexamination of the decision that lifted Balogun's suspension before the United States Men's National Team's match against Belgium.
In the Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Balogun received a red card that automatically suspended him for the subsequent game. On the day before the Belgium match, officials ruled him eligible to play. The United States lost that match 4-1. President Donald Trump admitted to calling Infantino to request a review of the red card. Trump stated that he believed the incident was not a foul but rather two athletes crashing into each other. He claimed that he did not tell Infantino what decision to make, asserting that a committee made the final determination. Trump described the potential absence of a top player as a significant stain on the tournament.
The relationship between Trump and Infantino has drawn criticism from observers who view it as a conflict of interest. During the World Cup final draw in December in Washington, D.C., Trump was awarded the first FIFA Peace Prize at the Kennedy Center. The rules governing this prize are also scheduled for review at Thursday's meeting. Balogun told CBS that he noticed nerves among his teammates as the controversy intensified. He noted that the situation affected the team's dynamic during the tournament.
Separate from the suspension issue, FIFA proposed details for a company called FIFA Forward Enterprise nine days after the World Cup final. The proposal would have allowed private investors to buy shares in the World Cup. The plan faced widespread criticism and was rejected before being scrapped. The association is currently addressing these governance issues in its upcoming session.