Dozens of European lawmakers are “gathering support to launch an investigation in the European Parliament” of FIFA President Gianni Infantino over his “involvement in the decision to permit” USMNT F Folarin Balogun to play despite a red card. FIFA lifted Balogun’s suspension after President Trump “intervened with Infantino on behalf” of Balogun. European Parliament lawmakers Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters and Niels Fuglsang said in a joint statement the decision by FIFA to “change the rule on red card suspensions mid-tournament is a disgrace and a perversion of justice.” They are asking the national football associations of European Union countries to “spur the FIFA Ethics Committee to investigate Infantino and whether pressure from the Trump administration was a factor in the lifting of the suspension, as well as ‘other potential breaches of political neutrality’ like awarding Trump the FIFA Peace Prize” (AP, 7/8).
England’s Football Association “intended to back” Infantino’s attempts to stay in power “before his World Cup integrity row erupted.” FIFA is “understood to have discreetly asked all the leading nations to formally back Infantino’s candidacy for re-election in 2027.” The FA is “said to have agreed to comply in recent months and was poised to send a letter of support once the World Cup kicked off” (London TELEGRAPH, 7/8).
Meanwhile, columnists in the U.S. continued to criticize Trump’s involvement in having the red card suspended:
- Sacramento Bee’s LeBron Antonio Hill: Trump’s World Cup favor sets a dangerous precedent in U.S. sports.
- Denver Post’s Bennett Durando: USMNT lost its World Cup karma with Trump’s intervention in red card reversal for Balogun.
- K.C. Star’s Dion Lefler: Red card? Donald Trump deserves one for interference in the World Cup.
- K.C. Star’s Vahe Gregorian: Trump’s shameless meddling in World Cup is reminder of why sportsmanship matters.
- Indianapolis Star’s Gregg Doyel: Worst 24 hours in USMNT history starts with President Trump call, ends in World Cup loss.
