Folarin Balogun
Photo: Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
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- Oct 19
UEFA gives FIFA until 2 November to answer 42 questions on Infantino and the FFE plan
UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis has written to FIFA with 42 questions on the abandoned World Cup investor plan, the Peace Prize and the Balogun case. Written answers and documents are due by 2 November.
- Oct 16
FIFA weighs scrapping its Peace Prize, which Trump alone has received so far
FIFA's Council in Zurich referred the future of its Peace Prize, the first awarded to Donald Trump, to a social responsibility committee on 15 October 2026. A decision is due at the Council meeting in Doha on 16 December.
- Oct 15
Infantino apologises for World Cup stake sale plan as UEFA demands he step aside
At the FIFA Council meeting in Zurich on 15 October, Gianni Infantino apologised for how the Forward Enterprise plan was handled, but the plan is withdrawn for good and UEFA is still pressing for his replacement ahead of the March 2027 election.
- Oct 14
FIFA proposes barring suspension of automatic bans after Balogun case
FIFA is set to put a proposal to its Council in Zurich on Thursday, 15 October, that would stop automatic one-match bans from being suspended. It follows the Balogun case, in which a US forward played a World Cup round-of-16 match after a red card.
- Oct 6
Norway files formal FIFA ethics complaints over Trump peace prize and World Cup deal
The Norwegian Football Association has asked FIFA ethics and governance committees to investigate President Gianni Infantino over political neutrality and commercial tournament decisions.
- Sep 30
Swiss Football Association withdraws endorsement of FIFA President Gianni Infantino
The Swiss Football Association reversed its endorsement of FIFA President Gianni Infantino on 30 September 2026, citing governance concerns ahead of the March 2027 presidential election.
- Sep 21
Top European football leagues demand FIFA governance overhaul ahead of 2027 vote
Leaders of the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and Bundesliga issued a joint declaration demanding a permanent stakeholder body and constitutional limits on executive power.
- Jul 28
House Democrat opens investigation into FIFA president Gianni Infantino over Trump ties
Jamie Raskin demands documents, visitor logs, and a transcribed interview by 9 August, citing a peace prize, a Trump Tower office, and the lifting of a US striker's suspension.
- Jul 28
Tebas calls Infantino's World Cup defence 'pathetic' as FIFA president hits back at critics
LaLiga president Javier Tebas has branded a social media post by FIFA president Gianni Infantino 'pathetic', after Infantino dismissed critics of the 2026 World Cup as 'consumed by hatred'.
- Jul 27
Infantino accuses World Cup critics of spreading 'hate and false rumors' in 15-page Instagram tirade
A week after Spain's 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina, FIFA President Gianni Infantino posted a 15-page Instagram statement accusing journalists and observers of spreading 'hate and false rumors' about the tournament, while defending FIFA's handling of visa denials, the Balogun red card, and commercial breaks.
- Jul 26
IOC will not sanction Gianni Infantino over Folarin Balogun affair, citing limits of its ethics code
The International Olympic Committee said the complaint from NGO FairSquare about FIFA president Gianni Infantino's role in lifting Folarin Balogun's World Cup suspension does not fall under its ethics code.
- Jul 25
IOC rejects FairSquare complaint over Infantino's ties to Trump, citing independence of federations
The IOC Ethics Commission said it lacks jurisdiction over the human rights group's allegations that FIFA president Gianni Infantino violated political neutrality rules by supporting Donald Trump.
- Jul 23
Norway's football chief to file FIFA ethics complaint over Trump's intervention in Balogun World Cup ban
NFF president Lise Klaveness says the lifting of US forward Folarin Balogun's World Cup suspension after Donald Trump's call to Gianni Infantino was 'influenced by external forces' and will seek board backing on Aug 6 to file an ethics complaint.
- Jul 7
Belgium routs USA 4-1 after Trump's intervention in Balogun red card saga, EU lawmakers demand FIFA probe
Belgium dismantled the United States 4-1 in the World Cup round of 16, hours after FIFA suspended Folarin Balogun's ban following a phone call from President Trump. The result triggered a political backlash, with 30 MEPs now demanding an inquiry into potential outside interference.
- Jul 7
Belgium routs USA 4-1 in World Cup last 16 after Trump's intervention fails to save host nation
Charles De Ketelaere scored twice and a goalkeeping error gifted Belgium a third goal as the Red Devils knocked the United States out of their home World Cup with a 4-1 win in Seattle.
- Jul 5
Belgium routs USA 4-1, players mock Trump with dance after red card controversy
Belgium defeated the United States 4-1 in the World Cup round of 16, then celebrated with a parody of Donald Trump's dance, mocking the president's intervention that allowed US striker Folarin Balogun to play despite a red card.
- Jun 13
USA open World Cup with 4-1 rout of Paraguay, Balogun double and Reyna strike set records
The United States launched their home World Cup with a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium, as Folarin Balogun scored twice and Giovanni Reyna added a record-breaking late goal.
- Jun 13
USA routs Paraguay 4-1 in World Cup 2026 opener as Balogun scores twice and Reyna adds late stunner
Folarin Balogun struck twice and Giovanni Reyna added a spectacular late goal as the United States launched their home World Cup with a dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay in Los Angeles on Friday.
