U.S. Soccer Vice President Says Infantino Aligned FIFA With Trump After Balogun Decision

Overview

• U.S. Soccer vice president Nathan Goldberg Crenier published a public letter accusing FIFA president Gianni Infantino of betraying FIFA’s values and allowing his relationship with President Donald Trump to influence the handling of Folarin Balogun’s red card.
• FIFA suspended enforcement of Balogun’s automatic one‑match ban using Article 27 rather than applying the automatic suspension under Article 66.4, a rare step that permitted Balogun to be named for the U.S. side against Belgium.
• Reporting says disciplinary chair Mohammad al‑Kamali made the Article 27 decision without consulting the full 18‑member Disciplinary Committee, a procedural irregularity that has drawn sharp criticism for lack of transparency and due process.
• European bodies including UEFA, the Council of Europe, national federations and advocacy groups have condemned the ruling and filed ethics and oversight complaints, and the controversy has produced calls for independent probes including to the IOC.
• The move unsettled players and did not change results on the field as the U.S. lost 4-1 to Belgium, and the dispute now risks longer‑term reputational and governance consequences for FIFA if investigations find improper political influence.