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The European Commission stresses that sporting decisions must be based on objective and transparent criteria, while FIFA lifted the suspension of US striker Folarin Balogun before the match with Belgium...
Brussels has called for respect for the principle of "fair play" and transparent competition in sport, after FIFA lifted the suspension of American footballer Folarin Balogun following a phone conversation between US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
European Commission spokeswoman Eva Hrncirova said on Monday that she would not comment on Balogun's specific case, but stressed that sports federations should be free to make their own decisions.
“We respect the autonomy of sport and the right of sports federations to determine the criteria according to which participants compete,” said Hrncirova.
She added that every decision must be made on the basis of objective and transparent criteria, underlining that the European Union supports the principle of fair play and transparent competition.
Balogun was shown a red card in the first-leg match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which meant he would be suspended for the round of 16 match against Belgium. After Trump’s phone call with Infantino on Thursday, the suspension was lifted. FIFA did not confirm whether the call influenced the decision, but told Politico that an independent disciplinary committee had decided to lift the one-match suspension.
European Commissioner for Sport, Glenn Micallef, reacted more strongly, warning that political interference in sporting decisions risks undermining the independence of governing bodies.
“Decisions on rules and sporting matters belong to sports institutions, not politicians,” he wrote on the social network X, adding “political influence on sporting decisions would violate the autonomy of sport.”
Micallef added that, in his opinion, FIFA had made "a wrong decision" and that attention should be focused on the real challenges of sports governance, including the use of sport for political purposes.
UEFA also reacted in harsh tones, calling FIFA's decision "incomprehensible and unjustifiable" and accusing the world football body of having crossed "a red line."
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot told Politico that FIFA’s decision “clearly raises many questions.” He added that if a phone call really led to this decision, then it would violate the fundamental rules of football and sport, as well as FIFA’s credibility to uphold the principle of fair play.
In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer also expressed cautious criticism. A spokesman for him said that such decisions are the responsibility of world football's governing body and should remain so, adding that the prime minister supports the integrity of competitions in all sports.
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