Fifa president Gianni Infantino responded to criticism of the tournament’s officiating and to claims of political interference, raised after USA forward Folarin Balogun was cleared for the last-16 despite an initial one-match ban being put on hold by Fifa following the involvement of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Historically, among 191 other red cards issued at men’s World Cups, only one player has avoided a suspension.
Uefa condemned the move as a step beyond acceptable boundaries, calling it unprecedented and indefensible, while Norway’s football federation is weighing a formal complaint to Fifa’s ethics committee.
Infantino countered that such outcomes are not unusual, saying comparable decisions are common and broadly accepted in top leagues around the world. He also suggested it was ironic that countries using similar practices were among the loudest critics.
The International Olympic Committee said it will not examine Infantino for potential breaches of political neutrality, noting that a complaint from the human rights group FairSquare falls outside the remit of its ethics body.
Infantino urged critics to show “love” and “respect” for a tournament he said united families and fans. He lamented that some were too consumed by hostility to appreciate the joy, emotion, and togetherness of the event, calling for love over hate, tolerance over division, and celebration over grievance. He encouraged detractors to pause, reflect, and witness how football brings people together, adding that he felt proud to have played a part in delivering that experience.