Balogun scandal: Infantino defends himself

With prodigy Lamine Yamal challenging the evergreen Cristiano Ronaldo, the round of 16 match between Spain and Portugal on Monday (7:00 PM GMT) promises to be unpredictable, but this clash has been overshadowed by the second match of the day, USA - Belgium, which has been at the heart of a scandal since the suspension of the red card of American Folarin Balogun after an intervention by Donald Trump with FIFA.

Trump confirms

In the wake of FIFA's resounding and unprecedented decision allowing Balogun to face Belgium this Monday in Seattle despite his exclusion against Bosnia-Herzegovina, the American president confirmed that he had intervened with Gianni Infantino, the head of world football.

"I asked for a review because I didn't think it was a foul," explained Mr. Trump, believing that the red card rules were "unfair" and describing the referee of the round of 16 match between the United States and Bosnia-Herzegovina as "very questionable."

As a result, the disciplinary committee modified the sanction. The one-match suspension he had automatically received was commuted to "a one-match suspended sentence, with a one-year probationary period."

FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended himself against accusations of intervening after disciplinary proceedings: "I explained (to President Trump) that a legal procedure was underway involving FIFA's independent judicial bodies and that the matter would be decided in due course by the competent bodies," he insisted on X.

The independence of FIFA's judicial bodies - disciplinary, ethics and appeals committees - is "essential for the credibility and integrity of football", he added, recalling that they ruled "autonomously", "on the basis of the applicable regulations and the specific facts submitted to them".

Although Balogun will be able to play in Seattle against the Red Devils at 5pm (Tuesday 00:00 GMT), the decision by FIFA and the intervention of Donald Trump have triggered a storm of negative reactions and criticism.

Avalanche of criticism

"As early as Sunday, the Belgian Federation expressed its astonishment." On Monday, it went further, stating that it "has no other choice but to contest the player's eligibility for the next match," without specifying in what form.

She received support, notably from UEFA, the European football governing body, which deplored that FIFA had "crossed a red line" and denounced a decision that was "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable".

Former FIFA president and Infantino's bitter enemy, Sepp Blatter, quipped: "Quo vadis (where are you going, editor's note?), FIFA?": "football must never become a playground for political power," he asserted.

Clash of generations: Lamine Yamal vs. CR7

Will a kid who isn't even 19 years old send one of the best players in history into retirement? Arriving in the United States with a physical deficit, Lamine Yamal is gaining momentum and could cause havoc against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in Seattle (Tuesday 00:00 GMT).

But CR7, 41, is not giving up before he even starts, nor is he talking about retirement. "You've tried to kill me for 23 years," the Portuguese superstar, winner of five Ballon d'Or awards, declared on Sunday to a sea of media gathered in the Dallas stadium.

"As I said before, (I will stop) when I decide, not when you decide," the striker with 146 goals in 232 appearances (two records in men's international football) and who is playing in his sixth World Cup reiterated.

Brazil "going against its DNA"

Unsurprisingly, the elimination of the Seleção, five-time world champions, by Norway, who had not played in a World Cup since 1998, on Sunday in the round of 16, was not well received in Brazil.

The Brazilian press, in particular, criticized the Italian national team coach Carlo Ancelotti.

"Ancelotti's plan is failing, in a style that doesn't suit" Brazil, laments the specialist website Globo Esporte, while UOL felt that Brazil played "in a pragmatic way, against its DNA".

Two final Round of 16 matches will be played on Tuesday: Lionel Messi's Argentina and Mohamed Salah's Egypt will face off at noon (16:00 GMT) in Atlanta, before Switzerland and Colombia close out this phase at 13:00 (20:00 GMT) in Vancouver.

AFP