Gianni Infantino was told to resign today because of the red card saga of Donald Trump and Folarin Balogun.
Jeff Stelling has insisted that Gianni Infantino must immediately resign as FIFA President as he is angry at Folarin Balogun’s red card.
Balogun was sent off in a controversial VAR decision USA 2-0 World Cup win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32, and should have served an automatic one-match ban.
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This would have seen the striker miss the USMNT’s round of 16 match against Belgium, which took place on Tuesday morning.
But in a highly controversial decision, the striker was allowed to play after US President Donald Trump called on FIFA chief Infantino to ask for a review of his suspension.
This caused quite a stir, with the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) saying it was ‘surprised’ by the move to lift the ban, and was ‘investigating all options’.
The Belgian federation will now formally write to FIFA to refer the matter, and reserve the right to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), talkSPORT understands.
Belgium has been given the right to appeal, and both US Soccer and the Belgian federation have been asked to make submissions at 5am PT (1pm BST) on Monday, ahead of the 5pm PT (1am BST) kick-off in Seattle.
UEFA also condemned FIFA’s action in a scathing statement, calling it ‘unprecedented, incomprehensible and inexcusable’.
‘A complete disgrace’
The talkSPORT Breakfast presenter Stelling has lashed out at Infantino and demanded that Infantino resign as soon as possible, as he emphasized that this decision raises concerns about corruption.
He got angry and said: “It is really shameful.
“People miss it when they say ‘maybe it wasn’t a red card.’
“Gianni Infantino needs to resign. He must resign today.”
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Stelling said Infantino had reached the point of no return after FIFA’s latest move, suggesting his relationship with Trump now puts him at a disadvantage.
The presenter went on to say: “He is the man who came up with the good idea of the FIFA Peace Prize and gave it to his partner, Donald Trump.
“And his partner is the one who is trying to influence this decision and change this decision.
“His position is untenable, the smell of corruption allegations is not pleasant at all, I mean he doesn’t see it because of his beauty.
“You want to be in the middle of all the shots that win the Champions League. Who is that in the middle? It’s Gianni Infantino.”
Infantino, who became FIFA president in 2016 when the governing body was engulfed in corruption allegations and, at the time, vowed to restore its reputation. “In the end, we will make sure that we can focus on a good game of football again,” he said.
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He has been denying any wrongdoing and protecting his integrity, yet he still finds himself in the middle of many controversies during this World Cup.
Somali referee Omar Artan was controversially barred from entering the USA ahead of the tournament, while Iran’s continued training outside the United States has also been controversial.
This scandal was not big even for the former president of FIFA who was disappointed, Sepp Blatter – who resigned due to allegations of corruption – many entered the social media.
He wrote in X: “Red cards are not overturned by political calls. They are overruled by laws, evidence and independent bodies.”
“When the President of the US intervenes with the President of FIFA – and the player is suddenly cleared before the final game of the World Cup – the question cannot be avoided: Quo vadis, FIFA?
“Football should not be a playground for political power.”
UEFA statement
After news of Balogun’s suspension emerged, European football governing body UEFA has criticized FIFA in a strong statement.
It reads: “When the validity of the rules is no longer guaranteed by their guardians, the integrity of the game is at risk and the integrity of the competition is undermined.”
“Equally, such a decision creates a precedent in the ongoing competition, where similar situations will need to be treated equally, which harms the competition.
“We express our disbelief at the unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjust decision.”
Are you setting an example?
FIFA cited article 27 of its rules in the decision to hand Balogun a disqualification, which allows them to ‘fully or partially suspend the initiation of disciplinary action’.
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And it’s a move that is said to have left England wondering whether it could benefit from a similar intervention.
Jarell Quansah was sent off following a VAR review as the Three Lions beat Mexico 3-2.
As it stands, Quansah will miss England’s match against Norway in the last eight, removing yet another option at right back.
But according to the Telegraph, Britain’s Attorney General, Lord Hermer, could now be looking to pull the trigger.
The letter says the Attorney General will ‘do whatever is necessary in the interests of the British nation’, leaving the door wide open for intervention.
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