FIFA President confirms Trump's call and talks about "Balogun Case"
The president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, confirmed in a statement this Monday (6) that he received a call from Donald Trump and spoke with the president of the United States about reviewing the expulsion of Folarin Balogun.
The striker, it is worth remembering, had received a red card in the United States' victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina and, initially, would serve an automatic suspension in the round of 16. On Sunday (5), however, FIFA suspended the punishment for a year on a probationary basis, freeing Balogun to face Belgium.
In an official statement released, Infantino highlighted that FIFA's judicial bodies are "independent" and "operate autonomously", in addition to explaining the content of the conversation with Donald Trump.
"FIFA's judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code and decide cases based on applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected," he said.
"In this case, I received a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different topics. During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA's independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the relevant bodies. This is how the FIFA system works, and it is a principle that I will always defend," explained the top hat.
Trump, it's worth remembering, confessed that he asked FIFA to review the move because he "didn't find anything wrong", but denied any interference in the decision.
Finally, Infantino summed up: "Whether we personally like a decision or not is irrelevant."
See Gianni Infantino's position
"I have seen the public comments on the decision of FIFA's independent Disciplinary Committee relating to the suspension of Folarin Balogun, and I would like to reiterate a fundamental principle of FIFA governance.
FIFA's judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code and decide cases based on applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected.
Yes, I regularly discuss topics related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and in this case, I received a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different topics. During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA's independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That's how the FIFA system works, and it's a principle I will always uphold.
I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes I'm surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree.
What I always do, however, is respect these decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them. Whether we personally like a decision or not is irrelevant. Respect for independent institutions and the rule of law is what protects the integrity of our competitions and FIFA's credibility at all times."
Uefa blasts FIFA for releasing Balogun for the World Cup: "He crossed a red line"
Source: CNN