Gianni Infantino: From La Liga intern to FIFA's Balogun debacle

Gianni Infantino’s public image was put under additional pressure after the FIFA decision involving Folarin Balogun escalated into a wider controversy. The article describes Infantino watching Mexico vs England at Estadio Azteca on Sunday, with tensions already rising over FIFA clearing Balogun to face Belgium after his red-card suspension was overturned. It says Infantino appeared to have contained criticism initially, but U.S. President Donald Trump disrupted the narrative with a social media post congratulating FIFA for granting a reprieve to an American. The piece places the episode in the context of Infantino’s broader reputation, citing a popularity decline tied to past decisions and remarks, and noting that he has surrounded himself with high-profile football figures including Roberto Baggio, Hristo Stoichkov, Ronaldo Nazário, Kaká, and Alessandro Del Piero. It also reviews FIFA’s World Cup hosting choices under Infantino, highlighting selections from South Africa 2010 to Qatar 2022 and referencing criticism linked to human-rights concerns and past corruption allegations.