{"id":191427,"date":"2026-07-08T05:07:56","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T10:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=191427"},"modified":"2026-07-08T05:07:56","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T10:37:56","slug":"european-mps-call-for-probe-of-fifa-boss-infantino-over-red-card-suspension-world-cup-2026-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=191427","title":{"rendered":"European MPs call for probe of FIFA boss Infantino over red card suspension | World Cup 2026 News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<p class=\"article__subhead\"><em>Lawmakers call FIFA decision to scrap Balogun suspension after Trump intervention \u2018a disgrace\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"byline byline--single-avatar\">\n<div class=\"avatars-container\"><a class=\"avatar\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/author\/al_jazeera_staff_150119130629458\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsive-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2017-06-08T131939Z_1189275883_RC11B0FE7F20_RTRMADP_3_GULF-QATAR-JAZEERA-1714943623.jpg?resize=96%2C96&amp;quality=80 96w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 96px) 96px, 96px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-dates\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Published On 8 Jul 2026<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\">8 Jul 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\">European lawmakers have called for a probe into FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, after the organisation\u2019s unprecedented decision to overturn the World Cup suspension of US striker Folarin Balogun, raising questions about whether pressure from US President Donald Trump impacted the move.<\/p>\n<p>A group of members of the European parliament on Tuesday launched an initiative calling for an investigation into Infantino\u2019s role in the decision, Euronews reported.<\/p>\n<section class=\"more-on\">\n<h2 class=\"more-on__heading\">Recommended Stories<!-- --> <\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list of 3 items<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">end of list<\/span><\/section>\n<p>A letter being shared in the European parliament urged football associations across the European Union to seek a formal FIFA review of the decision-making process and any possible political interference.<\/p>\n<p>Balogun, who is the US\u2019s top goalscorer in the tournament, was shown a red card during the US victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1, which normally would force him to sit out the next game.<\/p>\n<p>However, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/sports\/2026\/7\/6\/why-fifas-balogun-red-card-suspension-after-trump-call-is-so-controversial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FIFA lifted his suspension<\/a> for a match against Belgium on Monday, after Trump called Infantino, who he has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/sports\/2025\/12\/6\/infantinos-peace-prize-to-trump-raises-questions-about-fifas-neutrality\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">friendly with for years<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>FIFA said the decision was made by its disciplinary committee.<\/p>\n<p>It marks the first time in modern World Cup history that a red card during the tournament has not resulted in a suspension.<\/p>\n<p>Europe\u2019s football governing body UEFA called the decision \u201cunprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Trump acknowledged asking FIFA to take another look at Balogun\u2019s case, calling the red card \u201chorrible\u201d, though he said he did not demand an outcome and could not tell Infantino what to do.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it [the suspension] would have left a big stain,\u201d Trump said, adding that the US and Belgium should each have their best players available for their match.<\/p>\n<p>The US went on to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/sports\/2026\/7\/7\/usa-cant-make-most-of-balogun-reprieve-as-belgium-set-up-spain-quaterfinal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lose to Belgium 4-1<\/a> and was eliminated from the World Cup.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"perversion-of-justice\">\u2018Perversion of justice\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>European parliament lawmakers Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters and Niels Fuglsang said in a joint statement that FIFA\u2019s decision to \u201cchange the rule on red card suspensions mid-tournament is a disgrace and a perversion of justice\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnce again, we\u2019ve seen Infantino and FIFA surrender to the demands of the Trump administration,\u201d said the statement by the lawmakers, who added that 35 colleagues have so far joined their petition.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe beauty of sport is that it is based on impartial and transparent rules. When Infantino allows political pressure to determine who gets to play, this sense of fairness goes out the window,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n<p>Infantino defended his call with Trump, saying he told the US president that the matter was handled by FIFA\u2019s independent judicial bodies.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat is how FIFA\u2019s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold,\u201d said Infantino.<\/p>\n<p>The Swiss football administrator has developed close ties with Trump, who he presented with a newly-created \u201cFIFA Peace Prize\u201d last year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2026\/7\/8\/european-mps-call-for-probe-of-fifa-boss-infantino-over-red-card-suspension\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lawmakers call FIFA decision to scrap Balogun suspension after Trump intervention \u2018a disgrace\u2019. Published On 8 Jul 20268<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":191428,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-191427","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/reuters_6a4e03bc-1783497660.jpg","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":189152,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=189152","url_meta":{"origin":191427,"position":0},"title":"Portugal vs Croatia Highlights, FIFA World Cup: Gvardiol&#8217;s late strike chalked off as POR escape with 2-1 win","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"July 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Portugal vs Croatia LIVE Score, FIFA World Cup 2026: Follow Latest Updates Portugal vs Croatia Highlights, FIFA World Cup 2026: Portugal are through after surviving a dramatic finish to beat Croatia 2-1 in a gripping Round of 32 contest. 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