FIFA president Gianni Infantino looks set to pay the price for the hugely controversial decision to lift Folarin Balogun’s one-match suspension following Donald Trump’s intervention.

FIFA have been widely criticised for suspending Balogun’s ban ahead of the 2026 World Cup last 16 tie between the United States and Belgium.

Balogun, the USMNT’s top scorer at the World Cup, was shown a straight red card against Bosnia & Herzegovina in the Round of 32, which should have ruled him out of the Belgium clash.

However, in a decision described as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable” by UEFA, FIFA announced that Balogun’s one-match ban had been suspended for a year.

Trump, who has close ties with Infantino and was controversially handed FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize back in December, thanked world football’s governing body for “reversing a great injustice”.

While Belgium ended up beating the United States 4-1, FIFA’s decision has still had significant ramifications, with other national teams spurred on to launch speculative appeals – only for them to be rejected.

France, for example, had an appeal turned down after attempting to get a controversial yellow card for Michael Olise cancelled. Meanwhile, England are unable to launch an appeal after defender Jarell Quansah was handed a two-match ban following a straight red card against Mexico.

Infantino Now Facing ‘Lame-Duck FIFA President’ Status

REUTERS/Henry Romero

The Times’ chief sports reporter Martyn Ziegler is reporting that Infantino, FIFA’s main man since 2016, is now facing a future as a “lame-duck FIFA president” as a direct result of the Balogun decision.

The report says several countries that had previously backed Infantino’s re-election are now looking to withdraw their support.

These nations believe the decision to defer Balogun’s ban until after the World Cup has crossed a line in that FIFA was potentially manipulating the outcome of a match.

Infantino is expected to survive the fallout and be unopposed for re-election in 2027, the report says, but the Balogun scandal has caused so much damage to his standing that he will ‘almost certainly be blocked from achieving his main aims in his final term of office’.

These aims include expanding the FIFA Club World Cup, won by Chelsea in 2025, and potentially turning it into a biennial tournament.

Reuters/Vincent Carchietta

Furthermore, Infantino can ‘forget any thoughts’ of trying to change FIFA’s rules so that he can stand again after his final term expires in 2031. One senior football source told The Times:

Infantino’s main powerbase has been in Africa but certain FAs on the continent, including those in Egypt and Senegal, are now having second thoughts over their support for FIFA’s current president.

A statement has been released as England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was subjected to a derogatory one-word insult by Mexican fans at the World Cup.

The Everton shot-stopper played a big part in the Round of 16 victory inside the Azteca Stadium, where the crowd created a tense and intimidating atmosphere for the Three Lions players.

Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane got the goals that saw them through to the quarter-final, while Pickford and his backline defended the goal brilliantly in the closing stages. While the Mexican ground is famed for its difficult playing conditions and brilliant atmosphere, this isn’t the first time it’s all been overshadowed by fans’ chants and insults.

England Supporters Group React to Pickford Insult

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Large sections of the crowd were heard chanting ‘puto’ towards Pickford throughout the Round of 16 clash. The word for a male prostitute has become a regular occurrence in Mexican football, with the football federation often punished by FIFA for it.

England fan group Three Lions Pride & Pride In Football have now released a scathing statement, condemning the use of the word in any context. The group said:

As they go on to point out, it’s not the first time the slur has been used by Mexico fans during the 2026 World Cup. They were even handed a major FIFA warning prior to the England clash.

The statement continued: “This is the third time such chanting has been heard from El Tri fans in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after previous chants occurring against Czechia and Ecuador. This is simply not good enough.

“FIFA’s weakening of anti-discrimination messaging in the lead-up to, and during, this tournament has had a noticeable impact. As stewards of the game, FIFA have a responsibility to protect it, and to make it the beautiful game for everyone.

“We call on the Mexican FA and FIFA to have more effective anti-discrimination messaging and education programmes to tackle such chanting, and if it continues, stronger punishment must be handed out.”

Mexico Forced to Pay Out on Discriminatory Chants

Pawel Kopczynski via Reuters

According to The Sun, over £1 million in fines have been imposed on the Mexican football federation over the matter. Not just for the use of the word in their own country, but also in stadiums around the world.

Ex-Mexico international Marco Fabian is one of many who insist the term is simply part of football culture. However, the Mexican government’s anti-discrimination commission (CONAPRED) has listed ‘puto’ as a homophobic slur.

Thibaut Courtois has issued his honest opinion on Senne Lammens after the Manchester United goalkeeper’s mistake cost Belgium dearly against Spain in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals.

Courtois started in goal but was subbed off through injury with 20 minutes remaining. The scoreline was 1-1 at this point after Charles De Ketelaere had canceled out Fabian Ruiz’s first-half goal shortly before half-time.

Lammens, who was voted Premier League Signing of the Season following an excellent debut campaign at Old Trafford, entered the fray for only his third international cap but made the error that led to Mikel Merino scoring the winner.

Spain defender Pau Cubarsi took a speculative shot from range which Lammens should have dealt with comfortably.

However, Belgium’s back-up goalkeeper spilled the ball into the path of Merino, who sent Spain through to the semi-finals with a close-range finish.

It was a gut-wrenching moment for Lammens and everyone else associated with Belgium. The Red Devils were minutes away from taking the tie to extra-time and will now make their way home from North America.

Courtois Speaks About Lammens After World Cup Mistake

REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

After the match, Courtois defended Lammens, insisting his teammate is a top-class ‘keeper who will benefit from this gruelling experience.

“I gave him a big hug,” Courtois said, per France 24. “He’s a great goalkeeper. You only get stronger from this.”

The Real Madrid star added: “Eventually you cannot say much more to him or give him much more advice. He is a strong guy, strong personality. I’m sure he’ll be fine.

“You know, he will have some holidays and then regroup in Manchester and have a great season.”

Another Belgium player, Brandon Mechele, added: “It’s a learning moment for him. It was not the most easy ball. I think it bounces just in front of him. And we as defenders could have helped him by following up maybe more.

“So he needs to learn from this, and we as a group we have to be there for each other and help each other.”

Courtois and Lammens are both among the best goalkeepers in world football right now. Following Lammens’ mistake, Manchester United immediately rallied behind their shot-stopper, tweeting: “Head up, Senne. We’re all with you.”

Courtois Insists He Wanted to Stay on

Jessie Alcheh via Reuters/ Imagin Images

Meanwhile, Courtois has explained that he wanted to stay on the pitch before being substituted by Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia.

“Obviously, I wanted to continue, but the coach wanted someone 100%,” Courtois said.

“I wanted to try to play maybe five or 10 minutes because I was feeling good. I was making saves, and I was not disturbed to make those saves. So that’s a decision of the coach, and that’s not a problem.

“Obviously you’re not happy when you have to leave a quarter-final of a World Cup. But yeah, sometimes it is what it is. You can’t change it.”