FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed on Monday that he received a phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the red card issued to U.S. national team forward Folarin Balogun. Infantino emphasized that FIFA's judicial bodies operate with complete independence and are free from any interference.
Infantino explained he informed Trump that Balogun's case is subject to FIFA's legal procedures, stressing that disciplinary committees make their decisions independently, free from external pressures or interventions.
Infantino stated, "I told Trump that Balogun's case is under legal process and FIFA's judicial bodies decide cases independently." He added that he reviews the disciplinary committee's decisions post-factum and may agree, disagree, or be surprised by some, yet refrains from interfering with their work.
Earlier, Trump revealed that he had requested Infantino to review the decision concerning Balogun's dismissal, arguing that the referee erred in assessing the violation, dismissing it as merely a natural contact between players during the match.
The U.S. President asserted he did not attempt to impose any decision on FIFA, stating, "All I did was ask for a review of the decision, I did not dictate what they should do." He also welcomed FIFA's decision to suspend the ban, considering it a correct decision that serves the interests of the U.S. team.