Fifa set to bar suspension of automatic bans after Folarin Balogun row

Rule change planned after Balogun suspension storm

Fifa is preparing to alter its regulations to prevent any repeat of the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun, after its disciplinary committee opted to suspend an automatic one-match ban handed to the United States forward during the World Cup.

The dispute over political interference erupted after US president Donald Trump publicly disclosed that he had personally phoned Fifa president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the decision.

A proposal to explicitly prohibit the suspension of automatic one-game bans in future is expected to be introduced at Thursday's Fifa Council meeting in Zurich. However, the regulatory change alone is unlikely to satisfy critics seeking a full explanation of how Balogun's suspension was set aside.

Pressure from within the Council

Among those seeking answers is Football Association chair and Fifa vice-president Debbie Hewitt, who wrote to Infantino last month requesting the disclosure of all documents related to the case. Infantino has consistently maintained that the disciplinary panel reached its decision independently of his office.

Hewitt and fellow Council members are also expected to press Infantino for further details on the abandoned Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal. The initiative aimed to bring private investment into a commercial arm that would oversee the financial rights of the World Cup and other major tournaments. Infantino faced calls to step down over the summer from the presidents of three continental confederations, including Uefa, after details of the FFE plan, developed without consulting the Fifa Council, were disclosed in media reports.

Infantino eyes fourth term

Despite early pressure, Infantino remains intent on standing for a fourth term as president at next year's Fifa Congress and holds a strong position. Last week he secured unanimous backing from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), alongside robust support across South America, Oceania and Asia. The president of the Asian Football Confederation, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, who urged Infantino to resign in August, appeared to soften his stance last month in a letter advocating an internal working group to explore governance reforms.

Uefa has committed to putting forward a credible opposition candidate before the 18 November deadline, but Infantino presents a formidable challenge for any contender.

Trump Tower lease and payment questions

Infantino may also face questioning over Fifa's lease for office space in New York's Trump Tower, where the governing body reportedly agreed to pay $4 million (just over £3m) over seven years. Reports this week also claimed Infantino received a £1.3m payment in 2024 from an American Fifa World Cup subsidiary that was omitted from Fifa's annual financial report.

$6.35bn distribution proposal

The Council is also set to consider a proposal from Fifa administrators to distribute $6.35 billion (£4.8bn) to member nations and continental confederations over the next three years, including $25 million (£19m) to each of Fifa's 211 member countries. That would more than double the amount originally scheduled for distribution in the 2027 to 2030 cycle.

The plan follows a letter sent to Infantino on 18 September by the presidents of Uefa and Concacaf, Aleksander Ceferin and Victor Montagliani, urging that every national association receive an additional $10 million (£7.6m) through a single release from Fifa's cash reserves, estimated at $6 billion (£4.5bn). They said releasing the funds would show member bodies "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". The remarks were seen as a direct reference to FFE, as Fifa had previously pledged increased development funding to federations if the project was approved. Fifa has been approached for comment.

Host nations and Peace Prize

The Council is also expected to confirm host nations for several competitions, including the inaugural Women's Club World Cup in 2028, with the US regarded as the front-runner. The Fifa Peace Prize, presented to Trump for the first time last December, is also listed for discussion following a request from a Council member, with the Council seeking clarity on the process for this year's award.