Vancouver [US], July 7: FIFA chief Gianni Infantino says a call from US President Donald Trump about Folarin Balogun's red card in no way influenced the decision to suspend his ban as Belgium's late appeal was denied on Monday.
The saga has rocked the World Cup and shocked the football community, with critics accusing governing body FIFA of giving in to alleged political meddling.
US striker Balogun is now eligible to play in their last-16 match later on Monday against Belgium despite a red card in the last round, which normally means an automatic one-game suspension - even in cases where the referee's decision is deemed harsh.
Trump said at the White House that "I asked for a review because I didn't think it was a foul" and that a suspension would have left "a big stain" on the tournament.
"I've never seen anything like it. That wasn't a foul. That wasn't even an infraction. All I did was ask for a review. I didn't say, you have to do this," he added.
FIFA president Infantino responded in a statement that "FIFA's judicial bodies are independent." He continued: "They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the 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."
Infantino, who has previously been criticized for being too close to Trump with the US as co-hosts, acknowledged the call from the White House but said he had made clear to the president that the process was independent.
"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 is how FIFA's system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold," he remarked.
What happened?
Balogun was sent off in the US team's 2-0 victory in the last 32 over Bosnia and Herzegovina last week and was to serve an automatic one-game suspension for the round of 16 match against Belgium.
But FIFA said on Sunday it had suspended the ban for a one-year period, making him eligible to play. FIFA gave no reasons for the near unprecedented decision.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said on Sunday it was "astonished" by the decision and said that FIFA broke its own rules which it had frequently outlined before and during the tournament.
The RBFA followed up on Monday alleging that FIFA had violated its own rules again in the process since Sunday.
The Belgian federation said it asked FIFA for an explanation of the decision, to which FIFA responded that it considered the request as an appeal. The governing body provided no information beyond that.
"For an appeal to be admissible, FIFA's own regulations state that the reasoned decision must first have been communicated to the appellant. While the RBFA was merely seeking legitimate explanations, FIFA itself created an appeal and immediately ensured that it would be declared inadmissible," the RBFA said.
"Regardless of the sporting outcome of this match, the RBFA is deeply concerned by the course of events and will continue to fight in the coming hours, days and months in defence of the fundamental principles of ethics, fair competition, and the interests of football as a whole."
An official appeal was then launched but FIFA announced it was "rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision."
Ex-FIFA president Joseph Blatter added: "Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies. Football must never become a playground for political power."
It is not the first time FIFA used its article 27 to override suspensions. It dis so with Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo, who however had served the first game of a three-match ban which was then suspended, allowing him to play at the World Cup from the start.
Back in 1962, Brazil star Garrincha was red-carded but played in the final. Suspensions for following matches were not automatic at the time and it is believed that politics played a role in him playing.
Source: Qatar Tribune
