FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that he received a phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the suspension of American striker Folarin Balogun following his controversial red card.
In a statement released on Monday, Infantino said he was aware of public reactions to the decision of FIFA’s independent Disciplinary Committee and stressed that the organisation’s judicial bodies operate independently of its leadership.
“I have seen the public comments regarding the decision of the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee related to the suspension of Folarin Balogun, and I would like to reiterate a fundamental principle of FIFA’s governance,” he said.
Infantino explained that FIFA’s judicial bodies function autonomously, applying the FIFA Disciplinary Code and reaching decisions based on the facts of each case and the relevant regulations.
He confirmed that while he regularly discusses matters relating to the FIFA World Cup with President Trump, he made it clear during their conversation that Balogun’s case was subject to an ongoing legal process handled by 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,” Infantino said.
BREAKING: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has released a statement regarding the decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s red card 🚨 pic.twitter.com/Wa30trGU1Y
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 6, 2026
He added that he informed the U.S. president that the matter would be decided by the appropriate judicial bodies in accordance with FIFA’s established procedures.
The FIFA president also acknowledged that he does not always agree with decisions taken by the Disciplinary Committee but insisted that he respects their autonomy.
“I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued.
Sometimes I am surprised by them.
Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree,” he said.
According to Infantino, respecting the independence of FIFA’s judicial institutions and the rule of law is essential to preserving the integrity of the sport and maintaining confidence in the organisation’s competitions.
BREAKING: President Trump reveals the details of his conversation with FIFA President Gianni Infantino over the controversial red card call on star American player Folarin Balogun.
“All I did was ask for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul. And, you know, again, I’m… pic.twitter.com/MD5Q9t44th
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 6, 2026
