Tebas blasts FIFA over Balogun red card reversal as 'tip of the iceberg'

Javier Tebas, president of Spain's LaLiga, has sharply criticized FIFA's decision to lift the suspension of US striker Folarin Balogun, calling it the 'tip of the iceberg' of a governance model that erodes football's credibility. Balogun was sent off in the round of 16 against Bosnia and faced a one-match ban, but FIFA suspended the sanction after a call between US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, allowing Balogun to play against Belgium.

Tebas's criticism

In a series of posts on X, Tebas argued that the case is not an isolated incident but symptomatic of systemic problems. He accused FIFA of interpreting or modifying rules to suit its needs and making key decisions without consulting national leagues. 'When the rules are interpreted or modified at will, and key decisions are taken without dialogue or agreement with the national leagues... the problem ceases to be a specific resolution and becomes the system itself,' he wrote Source: excalisiormx. He also stated that 'if the rules are constantly applied arbitrarily, trust disappears. And without trust, there is no institutional credibility' Source: elmundoes.

Trump's involvement and FIFA's response

Trump publicly acknowledged calling Infantino to request a review, calling the red card 'unfair' Source: elmundoes. FIFA's Disciplinary Committee later clarified that it did not revoke the red card but declared the suspension 'suspended and on probation,' denying any external interference Source: infobae (EFE). The decision has sparked calls for Infantino's resignation from some quarters.