Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, responded after it became known that Donald Trump personally called him about Folarin Balogun’s suspension.
The executive did not deny anything. On the contrary: he confirmed the conversation with the president of the United States and explained that he told him the same thing he is now saying publicly, that FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee is independent and that the case would follow its legal course regardless of who called. “Sometimes they surprise me, sometimes I agree, sometimes I don’t”, he admitted about that body’s decisions, making it clear that not even he has the final say.
The line that resonated most was his closing remark: that whether he personally likes a decision or not is irrelevant compared with respect for institutions. A direct message in the middle of the controversy over Balogun, with politics deeply entangled in world football.