President of FIFA. Trump’s call did not affect the decision to suspend the American forward’s suspension

“The judicial bodies of FIFA are independent,” Gianni Infantino insisted, adding that he also said the same during a telephone conversation with Donald Trump.

“I explained that the case will be properly resolved by competent authorities. This is how the FIFA system works, and this is a principle that I will always uphold,” he said.

The 24-year-old American footballer was red-carded for kicking Bosnian defender Tarik Muhamerovic in the leg during a match against Bosnia-Herzegovina and was expected to miss at least one match. FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, however, announced yesterday that the one-match ban will be replaced by a one-year probation.

The media reported that this decision was made after Trump’s phone call. US President Donald Trump confirmed that he asked the FIFA president to review the sanction.

“I only asked to review that decision because I don’t think he committed a violation,” Trump said.

UEFA stated that FIFA crossed the “red line. “Football, like any other sport, is based on rules that are the basis of fair, honest and transparent competition. Sometimes the rules can be interpreted. In this case, no,” said the European governing body.

The former president of FIFA, Joseph Blatter, also insisted: “red cards are not canceled by political phone calls, football should never become a playground for political power.”

Despite the criticism, Folarin Balogun will take the field after midnight as part of the USA team, taking on Belgium in the round of 16.