FIFA moves to ban political interference in suspensions after Balogun World Cup scandal

FIFA is preparing a regulatory change that would prevent any repeat of the political furore surrounding Folarin Balogun’s World Cup ban, with a formal proposal expected at Thursday’s Council meeting in Zurich.

The controversy erupted after FIFA’s disciplinary committee suspended an automatic one-match ban imposed on the United States forward during the World Cup. The decision drew widespread criticism when US president Donald Trump publicly disclosed that he had personally phoned FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the red card ruling.

The proposed amendment would explicitly prohibit the suspension of automatic one-game bans going forward. However, the rule change alone is unlikely to silence critics demanding a full account of how Balogun’s ban was set aside in the first place.

Football Association chair and FIFA vice-president Debbie Hewitt is among those pressing for answers. Hewitt wrote to Infantino last month requesting the disclosure of all documents related to the case, and she and fellow Council members are expected to push for further transparency at Thursday’s meeting. Infantino has consistently maintained that the disciplinary panel reached its decision independently of his office.

The Council is also expected to seek further details on the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, an initiative that aimed to bring private investment into a commercial arm overseeing the financial rights of the World Cup and other major tournaments. The plan was developed without consulting the FIFA Council before details emerged in media reports, prompting calls for Infantino’s resignation from the presidents of three continental confederations, including UEFA.

Despite the pressure he faced over the summer, Infantino remains intent on standing for a fourth term as president at next year’s FIFA Congress and appears to hold a strong position. Last week he secured unanimous backing from the Confederation of African Football, alongside robust support across South America, Oceania, and Asia.

The president of the Asian Football Confederation, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, who had urged Infantino to resign in August, appeared to soften his stance last month, instead advocating for an internal working group to explore governance reforms.

UEFA has committed to putting forward a credible opposition candidate before the 18 November deadline, though Infantino presents a formidable challenge for any contender. The FIFA Peace Prize is also listed for discussion on Thursday following a request from a Council member.