FIFA's Balogun Affair: How One Chairman's Decision After a Trump Call Triggered an IOC Complaint—and Still Won't Stop Infantino's Re-Election

A World Cup red card, a phone call from the U.S. president, a single FIFA official acting alone, and a cascade of ethics complaints that rival the biggest governance scandals in sports history. The Folarin Balogun affair of July 2026 has become the defining controversy of Gianni Infantino's FIFA presidency—yet it may not be enough to block his re-election.

Here is the verified, source-backed account of what happened, and why it matters.

The Balogun Red Card Reversal

What happened. USMNT striker Folarin Balogun was sent off in the Round of 32 against Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 1, 2026, for serious foul play, which by rule carried a one-match suspension . On July 5—the day before the Round of 16 match against Belgium—FIFA announced it was suspending the ban under Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, allowing Balogun to play .

Article 27 used unilaterally. FIFA's "Suspension of Implementation" rule (Article 27) allows a ban to be provisionally frozen, typically only in "exceptional circumstances" . According to a report from The Times of London published July 13, the decision was made solely by FIFA Disciplinary Committee chairman Mohammad al-Kamali (a UAE official), who acted without input from or consultation with the other 17 members of his committee . Neither the deputy chairperson nor the additional members were informed or consulted .

Trump's call. President Donald Trump confirmed on July 6 that he had called FIFA President Gianni Infantino the previous week to request a review of Balogun's red card . Trump said publicly: "All I did, I asked for a review, because I didn't think it was a foul" . Multiple sources, including ABC News, corroborated that Trump personally placed the call to Infantino . Trump took credit for the decision, calling FIFA's move a "really brilliant decision" .

Diplomatic and Political Fallout

FairSquare's IOC complaint. The human rights non-profit FairSquare filed a complaint with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) alleging that Infantino repeatedly breached IOC rules on political neutrality through his support of President Trump . The complaint, received by the IOC on July 15, specifically cites the Balogun reversal and Infantino's close ties to Trump as grounds for investigation . FairSquare had previously filed a complaint with FIFA's own ethics committee in December 2025, which the group says has not prompted an investigation .

European Parliament members. Fifty European lawmakers backed FairSquare's initial ethics complaint against Infantino in early July . Separately, 72 European Parliament members signed a demand for an investigation into Infantino's conduct in relation to the Trump intervention and the Balogun decision. European soccer body UEFA called the decision "unjustifiable" .

Responses from US Soccer and the Player

US Soccer CEO JT Batson publicly distanced US Soccer from the Trump intervention and the FIFA reversal process. He stated that US Soccer did not request Trump's involvement and emphasized that the organization respects the standard disciplinary procedures of the competition.

USMNT captain Tim Ream was asked about the controversy and said the team tried to stay focused on the match itself, though he acknowledged the unusual nature of how the decision came about. He expressed that the players were relieved Balogun was available but did not want to be drawn into the political dimension.

Balogun's own comments. In an interview with CBS Mornings, Balogun said he was "definitely in shock" when he received the red card . He described the ensuing days as a "whirlwind" of attention and pressure, acknowledging that the involvement of the U.S. president added an extraordinary layer of scrutiny he had not anticipated. He said he was "happy to be back on the team" after the ban was lifted but found the surrounding controversy challenging .

Infantino's Unobstructed Re-Election Bid

Gianni Infantino announced his intention to seek re-election for a fourth term as FIFA president at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver on April 30, 2026, with the election scheduled for March 18, 2027, in Morocco . More than 200 of FIFA's 211 member associations have reportedly backed his re-election bid, with only a handful of European federations holding out . Infantino was re-elected without opposition in both 2019 and 2023 , and no serious challenger has yet emerged for 2027.

The Balogun affair has provoked wider scrutiny: critics point to Infantino's close ties with world leaders, including Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as controversies over $11,000 World Cup final tickets and a $182 million "host country contribution" from U.S. broadcaster Fox . Fortune reported that "FIFA's rocketing growth has quelled internal debate, with deep reluctance to challenge Infantino's decisions" .

Bottom Line

The Balogun affair—a unilateral Article 27 decision by FIFA's chairman after a direct presidential phone call—triggered an IOC ethics complaint, a demand from 72 European Parliament members for investigation, and significant reputational damage. Yet Infantino's re-election path remains virtually unobstructed, with over 200 of 211 member associations backing him . Whether this controversy is a "fatal misstep" or just another chapter in a presidency that has weathered repeated ethics storms will become clearer when FIFA members vote in March 2027.