FIFA set to amend disciplinary rules after Balogun controversy
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) is expected to amend its rules at Thursday's FIFA Council meeting in Zurich to prevent a repeat of the controversial decision in the case of United States international Folarin Balogun at this year's World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
FIFA's Disciplinary Committee converted what would otherwise have been an automatic one-match suspension for Balogun into a suspended ban, CE Report quotes STA.
This sparked a controversy over political interference after US President Donald Trump admitted that he had personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to ask him to reconsider the footballer's punishment.
FIFA Vice-President and English Football Association Chair Debbie Hewitt wrote to Infantino last month, urging him to publish documents related to the Balogun case. Infantino has consistently maintained that the Disciplinary Committee made its decision independently.
FIFA Council members are also expected to put pressure on Infantino over the now-abandoned proposal for the FIFA Forward Enterprise project. The initiative was intended to bring private investors into a company that would manage the commercial interests of the World Cup and other competitions.
Following the revelations, the presidents of three continental confederations, including the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), called on Infantino to resign. The Times first reported details of the FFE plan, which had been developed without the knowledge of the FIFA Council.
Infantino has since appeared to face challenges regarding his future at the helm of FIFA, but he remains determined to seek a fourth term as president next year. He currently appears to enjoy considerable support after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) unanimously backed him last week. He also has strong support in South America, Oceania and Asia.
The president of the Asian Football Confederation, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, called on Infantino to resign in August but has since softened his stance. In a letter, he called for the establishment of an internal working group to propose reforms to the governance of world football's governing body.
UEFA plans to propose a credible challenger to Infantino at next year's FIFA electoral congress. The deadline for submitting candidacies is November 18.
Infantino is also expected to face questions about FIFA's decision to rent office space in Trump Tower in New York. FIFA reportedly agreed to a seven-year lease worth €3.6 million.
Another issue expected to be discussed is a proposal by FIFA's administration to distribute €5.7 billion to national and continental football associations over the next three years, including €22 million for each of FIFA's 211 member associations. This would be more than double the amount planned for the 2027–2030 period.
The proposal followed a letter sent to Infantino by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) President Victor Montagliani. They argued that each country should receive at least €8.9 million from FIFA's reserve fund, estimated at €5.4 billion.
According to Čeferin and Montagliani, releasing these funds would demonstrate that football associations should not have to choose between development and good governance, investment and integrity, or financial support and the ability to assess proposals independently according to their own criteria.
On Thursday, the FIFA Council is also expected to confirm the hosts of several FIFA tournaments, including the inaugural Women's Club World Cup in 2028. The United States is currently considered the frontrunner to host the competition.
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