Trump’s interference in FIFA generates international controversy

What caused the controversy involving FIFA and the US government?

It all started with the expulsion of American player Folarin Balogun in a match against Bosnia. President Donald Trump personally called FIFA chief Gianni Infantino asking for a review of the punishment. Shortly afterwards, the entity decided to suspend the execution of the sentence, allowing the athlete to play in the round of 16 against Belgium, which generated accusations of favoritism and political interference.

How did international authorities react to this decision?

The reaction was indignation. UEFA classified the measure as ‘unjustifiable’ and stated that the integrity of football is at stake. The European Union has reinforced that sporting decisions must be taken by federations, not by politicians. Belgium, the USA’s opponent, tried to appeal, but had its request denied by FIFA on the grounds that it did not have legitimacy to participate in the process.

What was the role of Brazilian referee Raphael Claus in this scenario?

Claus was the referee who sent Balogun off and ended up becoming the target of an informal ‘dossier’. A major donor to the American federation would have forwarded accusations to the Trump administration without proof that the Brazilian was involved in manipulating results in Brazil. This information was used to pressure FIFA, although Brazilian authorities and FIFA itself never found any irregularities in the referee’s conduct.

How does FIFA justify the player’s release?

FIFA claims that the decision was taken independently by its Disciplinary Committee. The entity used a ‘discretionary power’ (which is a type of margin of maneuver guaranteed by the rules) to place the athlete on probation. In practice, the suspension of a match was paused, and the player was merely fined 40 thousand dollars, under the pretext that the expulsion should not have been analyzed only in slow motion.

Is there a close relationship between Donald Trump and the FIFA president?

Yes, the friendship between Trump and Gianni Infantino is public and notorious. Since returning to the White House, Trump has received deference from football’s highest governing body. A striking example was the creation, by FIFA, of a ‘Peace Award’ especially to honor the American president for his mediation in global conflicts, reinforcing ties between the US government and the current management of the federation.