07/06/26 11:48:00
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07/06 11:46 CDT Historic World Cup furor at FIFA decision to meet Trump's wish
and let US forward Balogun play
Historic World Cup furor at FIFA decision to meet Trump's wish and let US
forward Balogun play
By GRAHAM DUNBAR
AP Sports Writer
GENEVA (AP) --- With the integrity of FIFA and the World Cup under attack from
European soccer leaders, FIFA President Gianni Infantino acknowledged taking a
call from U.S. President Donald Trump before United States star forward Folarin
Balogun was cleared to play against Belgium later Monday.
Infantino insisted in a social media post that FIFA's disciplinary committee
acted with independence and judged cases such as Balogun's on "applicable
regulations and the specific facts."
Balogun is free to face Belgium in the round of 16 later Monday in Seattle
despite being sent off in the previous round which should have resulted in a
mandatory one-game ban.
The Belgian soccer federation earlier said FIFA had not provided key documents
for its appeal, and Norway's federation said the lack of legal explanation from
FIFA was "reason for concern regarding the integrity of the competition."
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