FIFA's appeal committee has rejected Belgium's challenge to the reinstatement of US forward Folarin Balogun as "inadmissible," confirming the striker is eligible to play in Monday's FIFA World Cup round-of-sixteen match against Belgium in Seattle.
The ruling comes after US President Donald Trump confirmed he personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to lobby for Balogun's red card suspension to be overturned — a move that has drawn a sharp rebuke from UEFA, European football's governing body.
President Infantino says FIFA's judicial bodies acted independently of any political pressure.
Kieran Maguire, author of "The Price of Football," says the backlash from Europe has been fierce.
IN: “It's noticeable that...”
OUT: “...down very well.”
DUR: 25 seconds
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0706-1815maguire-trumpfifa1.mp3
(ALT)
Kieran Maguire, author of "The Price of Football," says FIFA President Infantino's broad support base across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean means European opposition carries limited weight.
IN: “If you take...”
OUT: “...popular in Asia.”
DUR: 29 seconds
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0706-1815maguire-trumpfifa3.mp3