Italian football chief Giovanni Malagò has sharply condemned FIFA’s recent decision to erase the red card shown to Folarin Balogun during the World Cup’s round of 32 clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina, calling the move absurd and politically motivated.
The sanction, which had been applied for a foul in that match, was lifted after FIFA announced a suspension, effectively removing the dismissal from the player’s record and allowing him to escape a one‑game ban.
Political Undercurrents
Speaking at a press conference, Malagò described the reversal as a blatant breach of sporting fairness, citing Article 27 of FIFA’s statutes as the legal basis he believes was misapplied.
He warned that overturning disciplinary decisions for political reasons threatens the integrity of the sport, saying the precedent could erode the meritocratic foundations that have long defined football’s global appeal.
The New York Times revealed that the reversal followed a phone conversation between former U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, a call that Malagò suggested was the catalyst behind the governing body’s about‑face.
Malagò, who only weeks ago assumed the presidency of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), also reflected on the broader stakes for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, expressing concern that such interventions could prioritise diplomatic agendas over sporting fairness.
His remarks come at a time when Italy failed to qualify for the tournament, prompting the resignation of his predecessor Gabriele Gravina, a development that adds a layer of domestic instability to the federation’s leadership.