FIFA has faced months of criticism over its decision to lift United States striker Folarin Balogun's red card suspension at the World Cup, a move that came after United States President Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino about the matter. Now, the organization is reportedly moving to make sure that something like that can never happen again.
According to leaked documents, FIFA has drafted a change to its disciplinary code that would close the door on any exceptions to red card suspensions, but critics say the timing makes it look more like a cover-up for Infantino.
Balogun was sent off during the United States' match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which should have meant an automatic one-game suspension for the Round of 16 clash with Belgium. Instead, FIFA announced just one day before the match that it was suspending his punishment, clearing him to play.
The decision quickly drew outrage across the sports world, especially after Trump confirmed that he had called Infantino and asked for a review. Both men tried to downplay the call, with Trump insisting that "it was a committee that made the decision."
However, The Times' Martyn Ziegler later reported that the decision was actually made by just one person, disciplinary committee chairman Mohammad Al Kamali, without consulting the panel's other 17 members.
Belgium went on to win 4-1 with Balogun on the field, eliminating the United States.
This week, four sources briefed on the matter told James Franey of the New York Post that Infantino personally agreed to scrap the suspension during his July 1 call with Trump.
"He told President Trump that he would take care of it. One call and it was done," a source told the New York Post.
In the aftermath of the controversial decision, it sounds like FIFA is quietly moving to change its rules to prevent something like this from happening again.
According to leaked documents obtained by the New York Post, FIFA leadership sent out a draft change to its disciplinary code late Tuesday night that would forbid its legal panels from suspending automatic one-game bans for red cards. An accompanying memo claimed that the change is needed to ensure stability and protect the integrity of competitions.
But an internal briefing document circulated ahead of Thursday's FIFA Council meeting in Switzerland didn't mince words.
"There was never a doubt nor lack of clarity on how the automatic suspension following a red card is to be served," the document states. "This is a way for FIFA to cure the handling of the Balogun case during the World Cup."
Critics within European soccer federations told the New York Post that the quiet rule change seems like an admission of guilt and a retroactive attempt to cover for Infantino.
Last week, Norwegian soccer federation president Lise Klaveness filed an ethics complaint accusing Infantino of violating FIFA's political neutrality rules, citing both the Balogun reprieve and the FIFA peace prize he created for Trump.
Infantino was already facing criticism over his scrapped plan to sell off FIFA's commercial rights to Joshua Kushner's Thrive Capital, as well as reports of undisclosed World Cup payments
The post FIFA reportedly changing its rules after Donald Trump scandal appeared first on The Comeback: Today's Top Sports Stories & Reactions .
