Sepp Blatter, the former president of FIFA, has expressed his criticism regarding FIFA’s decision to lift a red-card suspension for U.S. forward Folarin Balogun. This decision allows Balogun to participate in a World Cup match against Belgium on Monday, sparking applause from Donald Trump and outrage from Belgian soccer officials.
The decision followed a call from Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino after the U.S. team’s match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, where Balogun received a red card. According to The Associated Press, someone familiar with the call, who preferred anonymity, disclosed this interaction.
Blatter addressed Trump’s intervention through a post on the platform X, stating, “Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies….” He further questioned, “If a U.S. President intervenes with the FIFA President — and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match — the question is unavoidable: Quo vadis, FIFA? Football must never become a playground for political power.”
Blatter served as FIFA’s president from 1998 until 2015, stepping down amid corruption investigations. Earlier this year, he supported a proposed boycott by fans of World Cup matches held in the United States due to Trump’s administration’s actions both domestically and internationally.
Newsweek attempted to reach Blatter for further comments through the Sepp Blatter Foundation via email.
The editors from Newsweek, Tobias Meyjes and Tony Phillips, have been contacted for more information. Updates on this developing story will be provided.