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Who could have predicted that a single refereeing call in a match between two nations ranked outside the world's top 15 would still be generating such intense global debate more than a month on?
The storm surrounding Folarin Balogun's harsh, if not entirely outrageous, red card for the U.S. men's national team against Bosnia and Herzegovina could have faded in the corridors of Levi's Stadium, when Mauricio Pochettino accepted the news that FIFA's rules ruled out any possibility of appealing the decision.
The USMNT head coach had hoped the controversy would die down once FIFA's independent disciplinary committee made the unprecedented move to suspend Balogun's one-match ban ahead of the round of 16 clash with Belgium. "We aren't playing the victim," Pochettino stated, "but we certainly aren't the villains of this story, either." Many would strongly contest that view after U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed he had personally contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request the decision be reviewed.
Belgium appeared to put the simmering controversy to rest with a commanding 4–1 victory over Balogun and his teammates in Seattle. Yet, this uncomfortable narrative still has considerable room to develop.
'Independent Review' Demanded
Several FIFA council members had already been working to drum up support for an inquiry into Infantino well before he revealed his polarizing plans to privatize the World Cup, according to The Guardian. The initial catalyst was Balogun's reprieve and the murky circumstances surrounding a decision that has yet to be satisfactorily explained.
A FIFA spokesperson initially stated that every red card automatically triggered a minimum one-match ban with no right of appeal. However, following confirmed contact with President Trump, the decision to suspend Balogun's ban for one year was made unilaterally by committee chairman Mohammad al-Kamali of the United Arab Emirates, without consulting the other 17 committee members.
The only explanation offered was a reference to Article 27 of the disciplinary code, which simply reads: "The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure."
Infantino has consistently maintained that he played no part in securing the reprieve. "I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA's independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies," the FIFA president claimed to have told Trump. Nevertheless, the U.S. President clearly believed the outcome was Infantino's doing.
"You made another great decision, if you think about that," Trump declared during a bizarre speech before the World Cup final, turning toward Infantino and patting him on the arm. "No, you'll never get credit. You'll never get credit for this. Think of it, if he didn't allow him, and then they could say, 'We would have won the game if we had our best players.' So Gianni made yet another of his many good decisions."
The Norwegian Football Federation has already filed a formal complaint with FIFA, and Infantino could face further pressure should an extraordinary general meeting be convened.
How Can Infantino Be Forced Into an Explanation?
A minimum of 19 of the 37 council members would need to lend their support for a meeting to be convened, which could then pave the way for a comprehensive review.
Reports suggest the movement had already gathered a double-digit number of supporters before Infantino's proposal to sell commercial rights in future FIFA tournaments was announced, sparking an even stronger wave of opposition.
UEFA and Concacaf have both publicly condemned Infantino, but those two confederations account for only 14 council seats. With CAF and CONMEBOL described as being "fully behind" the president, who retains some backing elsewhere, support from AFC or OFC member associations would be needed to force the meeting through.
A vote of no confidence against Infantino is also a possibility, requiring just 43 individual member associations to submit a letter. UEFA alone has 55 member nations.