The Folarin Balogun case is causing serious turmoil within FIFA, with Gianni Infantino’s position now appearing significantly weakened following the intense backlash over the suspension of the American striker’s punishment.

According to a report in *The Times*, several soccer federations that had expressed their support for Infantino’s re-election are now considering withdrawing that support. The prevailing sentiment in these countries is that the decision to postpone Balogun’s suspension until after the World Cup crossed the line, as they believe FIFA interfered in a matter that could directly influence the outcome of a match.

The FIFA president is expected to withstand the pressure and remain in his position; however, the scandal is said to have caused significant damage to his prestige and influence. At the same time, it is estimated that he will face strong opposition to future plans, such as further expanding the Club World Cup or holding it every two years.

In this context, it is considered extremely difficult to move forward with any effort to amend FIFA’s statutes so that Infantino can run for another term after 2031.

“Political interference in soccer could not have been more intense than that carried out by Trump, while FIFA’s explanations were ridiculous,” said a soccer source, arguing that Infantino is now isolated and risks becoming a president without any real political power.

Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, and Switzerland have already publicly expressed their opposition to the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, which upheld Balogun’s red card, but suspended his automatic suspension.

Belgium’s stance is particularly significant, as its national team faced the U.S. in the Round of 16 and Balogun was eligible to play. The Belgian Football Association reportedly informed Infantino a few weeks ago that it would support his re-election, but the situation has now changed.

Infantino’s main support base remains in Africa. The Niger Football Federation has openly expressed its support, rejecting any attempt to destabilize the FIFA president. However, in other African countries, such as Egypt and Senegal, there appear to be second thoughts.

The veil of secrecy surrounding the decision itself also raises questions. FIFA has not disclosed which member or members of the Disciplinary Committee decided to suspend the sanction. Over the past two years, a large portion of the cases have been adjudicated unilaterally by the Committee’s vice-chair, Jorge Palacio, though it remains unclear whether he was involved in this specific decision.

The Balogan case has now gone beyond the scope of a simple disciplinary dispute and is evolving into a major crisis of credibility for FIFA, with Gianni Infantino facing the most serious political pressure of his tenure.

*photo source: AP