FIFA’s disciplinary committee, the body that lifted American striker Folarin Balogun’s one-game suspension ahead of Monday’s U.S.-Belgium game, defended its decision in a statement released hours before kickoff in Seattle — but didn’t explain the rationale for making it. In the 13-paragraph statement, the committee explained the body’s rationale for reconsidering Balogun’s suspension. The review…
FIFA’s leading critic in the European Parliament told POLITICO that the decision to lift a key American player’s one-game suspension was the latest example of an “unbroken pattern” of nontransparent governance in world football’s governing body. Last week, centrist Irish MEP Barry Andrews penned a letter urging FIFA to investigate its president, Gianni Infantino, over…
GORHAM, Maine — The dam has broken on Graham Platner’s candidacy. Democratic leaders in Maine and Washington, along with a growing pack of Platner’s close supporters, abandoned his Senate campaign on Monday after POLITICO reported that a woman who dated him said he forced her to have sex with him. Platner called the allegation false….
The news that Folarin Balogun would be eligible to suit up against Belgium Monday night was met with near-universal celebration across the United States. Just don’t ask Belgian fans in the seat of U.S. power. POLITICO caught up with several of them at the Belgian embassy’s watch party at Wunder Garten, a trendy bar in…
President Donald Trump said earlier Monday that he didn’t know what a red card was before last Wednesday’s U.S.-Bosnia match. But FIFA President Gianni Infantino actually gave him a lesson on soccer’s disciplinary system during a 2018 Oval Office meeting after the United States secured the right to co-host the 2026 World Cup. During the…
Sam Liccardo said he “groaned excessively” when the U.S. national team’s Folarin Balogun was given a red card. Yet the Silicon Valley representative objected after President Donald Trump pressed FIFA to review the play at issue, before the world soccer organization suspended the penalty and allowed the U.S.’ lead scorer to play in today’s knockout…
Josh Shapiro can’t quit the World Cup. The Pennsylvania governor, who is currently leaning into a Sports Guy™ persona as Democrats bid to connect better with American voters, has attended four matches, including Saturday’s Round of 16 showdown between Paraguay and France in Philadelphia — two more than his next closest potential 2028 rival, Secretary…
BRUSSELS — Belgian politicians and soccer officials were outraged Sunday after FIFA ditched a one-match ban for American star Folarin Balogun that would have ruled him out of the U.S.-Belgium World Cup round-of-16 matchup on Monday. President Donald Trump immediately thanked FIFA on his Truth Social platform after the controversial decision was announced, for “for…
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was involved in behind-the-scenes conversations with FIFA to get U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s red-card ban suspended, according to two people familiar with the matter granted anonymity to discuss private deliberations. Lutnick has developed close ties with the leadership of soccer’s governing body. He attended a previously unreported dinner in early June…
FIFA’s decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban has sparked anger inside European soccer, with both continental confederation UEFA and the Royal Belgian Football Association discussing possible next steps, according to a high-ranking UEFA official. The official, who was granted anonymity to discuss ongoing deliberations, said no final decision had been taken. As of Sunday…
