FIFA poised for rule change to avoid repeat of Balogun incident

London [UK], October 17: FIFA is set to amend its rules to prevent a repeat of the hugely controversial Folarin Balogun case, the Press Association understands.
The decision by FIFA's disciplinary committee to suspend an automatic one-match ban imposed on the United States striker at the World Cup sparked a row over political interference, after US President Donald Trump admitted he had personally called his FIFA counterpart Gianni Infantino to review the ban.
It is understood an amendment will be proposed at Thursday's FIFA Council meeting in Zurich to prohibit suspensions of automatic one-match bans in the future.
That change alone is unlikely to satisfy those still seeking clarity on how Balogun's ban came to be suspended, including Football Association chair and FIFA vice-president Debbie Hewitt, who wrote to Infantino last month calling for the release of documents related to the Balogun case.
Infantino has always insisted the disciplinary committee's decision was taken entirely independently of him.
Hewitt and other fellow Council members will also push Infantino for more information about the now-abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which sought to bring private investment into a company which would run the commercial interests of the World Cup and other competitions.
The Swiss faced calls to resign during the summer from the presidents of three continental confederations, including UEFA, after The Times first reported details of the FFE plan, which was developed without the knowledge of the FIFA Council.
Infantino initially appeared to be on the ropes but remains determined to stand for a fourth term as president at next year's FIFA Congress and appears well placed to do so. Last week he secured the unanimous backing of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in addition to strong support in South America, Oceania and Asia.
The president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, had called for Infantino to go in August but appeared to soften his stance in a letter he sent to Infantino last month calling for an internal working group to consider reforms to FIFA's governance.
UEFA has pledged to put forward a credible alternative candidate, with the deadline for submissions set for November 18, but Infantino looks a formidable opponent for anyone who might run against him.
The FIFA Peace Prize is also on the agenda on Thursday after it is understood a Council member asked for it to be discussed.
Sources said the Council wanted an update around the process to be followed this year, with President Trump receiving the inaugural award last December.
Infantino could also face questions around FIFA's rental agreement for office space in Trump Tower in New York, after it was reported football's global governing body had agreed to pay $4 million for a seven-year lease.
The Times also reported this week that Infantino had received a payment of $1.7 million from a FIFA World Cup subsidiary company in the US in 2024 which was not publicly disclosed in FIFA's annual report.
The Press Association understands the Council will also hear a proposal from the FIFA administration to distribute $6.35 billion to national associations and continental confederations over the next three years, including $25 million to each of FIFA's 211 member nations.
That would be more than double what was originally set to be distributed in the 2027 to 2030 cycle.
The proposal comes after a letter was sent to Infantino by the presidents of UEFA and CONCACAF on September 18 saying each country should receive at least an extra $10 million by making a one-off release from FIFA's cash reserves, which they estimated to be $6 billion.
The presidents of UEFA and CONCACAF, Aleksander Ceferin and Victor Montagliani, said releasing the funds would show that associations "should not have to choose between development and good governance; between investment and integrity; or between financial support and the ability to consider proposals on their merits".
Those comments were taken to be a reference to FFE, with FIFA having promised increases in development funding to associations if the plan got the green light.
FIFA has been approached for comment regarding the proposed funding increase.
The Council is also set to approve hosts for a number of FIFA tournaments, including the inaugural Women's Club World Cup in 2028.
It is understood the US is the front-runner to stage that event.
Source: Qatar Tribune