United States forward Folarin Balogun avoided a one-match suspension for a red card at the last minute, but could not escape a financial penalty. FIFA fined him $40,000 (about £30,000) over a controversial red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the World Cup. The US Soccer Federation will bear half of that fine.
Ahead of the World Cup round of 16, FIFA’s disciplinary committee suspended Balogun’s one-match ban for a year, allowing him to play against Belgium. However, football’s governing body upheld the financial penalty.
FIFA said in a statement that the $40,000 fine was imposed for breaches of two separate articles of its disciplinary code, with the US Soccer Federation responsible for half.
The decision to suspend Balogun’s ban has sparked major controversy in world football. The Belgian Football Association and UEFA openly opposed it, and allegations emerged that the decision was changed only after US President Donald Trump spoke with FIFA president Gianni Infantino about the matter. Infantino has since addressed the controversy, saying FIFA’s judicial bodies are fully independent and that the president has no influence over their decisions.
“I did receive a call from US President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from various heads of state, government officials and football figures around the world on various matters. I simply informed him that the matter is subject to an independent judicial process and that the relevant committee will decide,” Infantino said.
He added: “Sometimes I agree with the disciplinary committee’s decisions, sometimes I don’t. But I always respect their independence. My personal opinion is not important here.” Discussion in the football world over the suspension of Balogun’s ban has not subsided. But even having avoided the suspension, the American forward is paying a steep price for this controversial episode through the fine.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report