UEFA president boycotted World Cup final over FIFA decision as feud with Gianni Infantino heats up

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin reportedly boycotted the World Cup final in protest against FIFA’s decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban.

USA forward Balogun was at the centre of controversy ahead of the nation’s World Cup round of 16 defeat to Belgium.

The AS Monaco forward had been sent off for a challenge on Tarik Muharemovic in the US’s 2-0 round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In line with FIFA rules, he should have been banned for the subsequent tie against Belgium. However, President Donald Trump intervened and directly spoke to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino before the one-match ban was suspended for a period of 12 months, allowing Balogun to play against the Belgians.

FIFA decided to suspend the ban for 12 months in line with Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

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A statement released by FIFA on July 5 read: "In line with Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year.

"If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement."

The Belgian FA’s appeal was later dismissed despite an outcry from fans, players and pundits around the world.

Trump also confirmed that he had contacted FIFA because he “didn’t think it was a foul” before explaining: “I didn’t tell him [Gianni Infantino] what to do. I can’t tell him what to do.”

He added: “That wasn’t a foul. That wasn’t even an infraction. That was two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other. You can’t take your foot and properly place it on somebody else’s foot when you’re going full speed. These were two great athletes that got tangled up.”

UEFA, European football’s governing body, released a scathing statement accusing FIFA of “crossing a red line” by making an “incomprehensible and unjustifiable” decision.

The statement read: “Football, like any other sport, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition. Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case, not.

“A minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted. It is a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and duly served their suspension.

“When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined. Equally, such a decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition. We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.”

Why did UEFA chief boycott World Cup final?

It appears UEFA chief Ceferin is not over the debacle, as, according to The Times, he chose to stay away from the World Cup final, with the Balogun saga part of the reason for his absence.

UEFA and FIFA’s relationship is said to be under strain following the tournament, with Ceferin also not pleased with the US authorities' decision to prevent Somali referee Omar Artan from entering the country. He has since been appointed referee for the UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in August.

FIFA’s failure to provide suitable treatment for Iran has also caused discontent within UEFA, while bending football’s rules, such as introducing hydration breaks and an extended half-time break for the final due to the half-time show, has not gone down well.

Ceferin, who attended the opening match of the tournament between Mexico and South Africa, has also been a vocal critic of FIFA’s dynamic pricing strategy.