Former FIFA President Joseph Sepp Blatter has questioned the independence of world football’s governing body following the decision to overturn United States forward Folarin Balogun’s suspension, warning that politics must never influence disciplinary matters.
Blatter’s comments come after FIFA cleared Balogun to feature in the United States’ Round of 16 clash following the suspension of his one-match ban under Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
The controversy intensified after United States President Donald Trump publicly thanked FIFA President Gianni Infantino following the decision, fuelling debate over whether political influence played a role in the disciplinary process.
Reacting on X, Blatter wrote: “Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls.
“They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies.
“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.”
Balogun was sent off during the United States’ World Cup Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina after a VAR review determined that he had stepped on defender Tarik Muharemović’s ankle.
Although the dismissal initially ruled him out of the Americans’ next match, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee later invoked Article 27 of its disciplinary code to suspend the one-match ban for a one-year probationary period, making the striker eligible for the knockout fixture.
While the red card remains on Balogun’s disciplinary record, the suspension will only be enforced if he commits another serious offence during the probationary period.
Trump later described the dismissal as a “great injustice” and publicly acknowledged Infantino after the decision was reversed, prompting criticism from sections of the football community.
The development also attracted objections from UEFA and the Royal Belgian Football Association, with concerns raised over the perception of political influence and the integrity of FIFA’s disciplinary process.
Although FIFA has consistently maintained that disciplinary decisions are made exclusively by its independent judicial bodies and not by the FIFA President or political figures, Blatter argued that the sequence of events had damaged public confidence in football governance.
The former FIFA president said the credibility of the game depends not only on fair decisions but also on the perception that those decisions are reached independently and without external interference.
Neither FIFA nor Infantino had publicly responded to Blatter’s remarks at the time of filing this report.