FIFA President Gianni Infantino:
“I have seen the public comments regarding the decision of the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee related to the suspension of Folarin Balogun, and I would like to reiterate a fundamental principle of FIFA’s governance.
“FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected.
“Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues. During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.
“I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree.
“What I always do, however, is respect those decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them. Whether we personally like a decision or not is irrelevant. Respect for independent institutions and the rule of law is what protects the integrity of our competitions and the credibility of FIFA at all times.”
Real strength is about helping people who need it. It’s about standing up for those who can’t always stand up for themselves. Let’s get to work and vote for the leaders who demonstrate that kind of character. Vote for @KamalaHarris and @Tim_Walz.
.@KamalaHarris and @Tim_Walz believe in an America where "We the People" includes everyone. Because that's the only way this American experiment works. And despite what our politics might suggest, I think most Americans understand that.
Salome Agbaroji, our 2023 Poet Laureate, is nothing shy of remarkable.
When I heard she’d be in the building taking meetings, I couldn’t the resist the chance to say hi.
Choose to live from a place of faith and not a place of fear. When you’re in peace, that’s a position of power. When you know God is in control, you’re going to be strong, you’re going to feel a force sustaining you.