FIFA is likely to review its disciplinary rules in the wake of the ruling that overturned the red card of US forward Folarin Balogun at the World Cup.
The proposal will be debated at Thursday’s FIFA Council meeting in Zurich, according to media reports, where FIFA will consider banning disciplinary committees from canceling automatic suspensions.
Balogun saw red in the 2-0 victory against Bosnia in the round of 32, having stamped on the right ankle of Tarik Muharemovic. That was initially a one-game ban.
However, the ban was later lifted after US President Donald Trump apparently called on FIFA president Gianni Infantino to take a look at the matter, which then saw Balogun play in opposition to Belgium in the Round of 16.
The ruling drew widespread criticism from football officials, former FIFA executives and coaches, and there has been discussion about the transparency and independence of FIFA’s disciplinary procedure.
Governance issues at FIFA
Fundraising and governance matters are to be discussed at the 37-member FIFA Council meeting scheduled to be held for the first time after the World Cup.
Following the spectacular failure of his proposed plan for a FIFA Forward Enterprise to divest a minority stake in a commercial subsidiary to private investors, Infantino has become the focus of criticism.
Elsewhere, FIFA vice-president Debbie Hewitt has reportedly joined calls for the documents on the Balogun case to be released.
Infantino will also stand for re-election in March 2027.
