Fifa president Gianni Infantino faces backlash after the unprecedented decision to cancel Folarin Balogun's red-card suspension for the United States' World Cup last-16 tie against Belgium. US President Donald Trump claimed responsibility, saying he asked Infantino to review the case, though he said he did not tell Infantino to suspend the ban. The decision has raised concerns about political interference in football, as World Cup rules do not allow appeals against red cards. Infantino rejected suggestions of political interference, insisting the disciplinary committee was independent. However, the decision has been criticized by figures like former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who called it "madness" if Trump and Infantino sorted it out between themselves. The incident comes after Infantino fostered a close relationship with Trump, including awarding him the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize, which drew complaints from human rights groups and MEPs about political neutrality. Fifa's statutes prohibit political interference, and countries like Pakistan have been suspended for government involvement in football associations. The question remains whether the rules are different for Infantino and Trump. Trump has not attended any World Cup matches but took ownership of the Balogun decision, while Infantino's tenure has been increasingly controversial over issues like ticket prices and the Club World Cup.
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