Sepp Blatter blasts FIFA’s Trump-linked Balogun red U-turn

ByKehinde-Hassan Afolabi

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has fiercely condemned the governing body’s decision to suspend USMNT striker Folarin Balogun’s red card ban following political lobbying from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has fiercely criticized the governing body’s decision to suspend U.S. forward Folarin Balogun’s automatic one-match ban ahead of Monday’s crucial World Cup knockout clash against Belgium.

Blatter’s sharp remarks followed widespread reports that U.S. President Donald Trump personally contacted FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to contest the red card Balogun received during a group-stage match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Writing on social media, Blatter warned that football must never become an arena for political gamesmanship, explicitly stating that independent bodies, not political phone calls, must dictate disciplinary outcomes.

While FIFA invoked Article 27 of its disciplinary code to place the suspension on a year-long probation, the unprecedented move has sparked immense backlash, with the Belgian Football Association expressing utter astonishment over the tournament ruling.

Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi is a football journalist whose deep tactical understanding of the game makes him a standout, captivating audiences across print, audio, and video. His poetic background brings a unique rhythm and depth to his work, seamlessly transforming analysis into artistry. With a knack for narration and research, he captures the drama of the game beyond tactics and statistics, making each piece of his; a compelling blend of insight and storytelling.

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