FIFA President Gianni Infantino has restated that the organisation’s disciplinary system operates independently, following public discussion over the suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun.

The issue arose after the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision to uphold sanctions imposed on Balogun following a red card incident. The case has drawn wider attention, including comments linked to United States President Donald Trump.

Infantino confirmed that he had spoken with President Trump about the matter but emphasised that FIFA’s judicial processes are insulated from external influence and are handled strictly within established regulations.

He explained that FIFA’s disciplinary bodies function autonomously and make decisions based on the governing rules and the specific circumstances of each case.

The FIFA President noted that while he engages regularly with political leaders and stakeholders on football-related matters, such conversations do not affect ongoing legal or disciplinary proceedings.

According to him, he informed President Trump during their discussion that the matter was already being handled by the appropriate independent structures within FIFA and would be resolved through due process.

Infantino further stated that disciplinary rulings may sometimes be debated or viewed differently, but they must still be respected in order to preserve the integrity of the sport.

He added that the autonomy of FIFA’s judicial institutions is central to maintaining fairness and credibility in global football governance.