Did FIFA lift Balogun's match suspension after a Trump phone call?

 Football's governing body FIFA is under fire for allegedly reversing a US footballer's match suspension following an intervention from US President Donald Trump. US striker Folarin Balogun had been sent off the field last week following a red card in a game against Bosnia and Herzegovina. But an automatic one match suspension thereafter was suspended by FIFA after reports emerged that Trump had called FIFA boss Gianni Infantino complaining about it.

FIFA wanted football, not politics — but the 2026 World Cup is both

FIFA President Gianni Infantino frequently touts keeping politics out of sports. But is that even possible? The reality is that football and politics have always been deeply connected.

 

FIFA goes MAGA? The World Cup, Trump and the future of football

Fifa rejects own committee's call to compensate Qatar workers

 In 2010 when FIFA awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar there was widespread accusations of vote buying, ignoring human rights and the kafala system which governs the rights of foreign workers in the country.  

Vote Buying:

The selection process involved several controversies. Two members of the FIFA Executive Committee had their voting rights suspended following allegations that they would accept money in exchange for votes. More allegations of vote buying arose after Qatar's win was announced. Eleven of the 22 committee members who voted on the 2018 and 2022 tournaments have been fined, suspended, banned for life or prosecuted for corruption.

Indictments: 

In May of 2015 The FBI arrested several members of FIFA's executive committee in Zurich following the unsealing of the charges at a press conference in New York with then Attorney General Lorretta Lynch and then FBI Director James Comey.

Following these arrests former FIFA President Sep Blatter; (Which involved members of his executive committee.) won reelection to be the head of FIFA.

Human Rights In Qatar:

In 2023, activists received reliable reports confirming that in mid-2022 the Criminal Court of Appeal in the capital, Doha upheld the convictions against brothers Hazza and Rashed al-Marri, both of them lawyers, for offences that included contesting laws ratified by the emir, “threatening” the emir on social media, compromising the independence of the state, organizing unauthorized public meetings, and “violating” social values online. They had been sentenced to life imprisonment. The charges related to speeches they made or poetry published online critical of the country’s electoral law that discriminates against members of al-Marri tribe.

Migrants’ rights

Migrant workers continued to face serious abuses, including wage theft, restrictions on changing jobs and inadequate grievance and redress mechanisms.

In early January, hundreds of marshals and security guards contracted to Qatar-based Teyseer Security Services, who had worked excessive hours without rest days on FIFA World Cup 2022 sites, staged protests days before their contracts expired to demand they be paid their dues in full.1 They told Amnesty International that representatives of Teyseer and the government promised they would be compensated, a pledge that was not honoured.

Kafala System:

The kafala, or sponsorship, system defines the relationship between foreign workers and their local sponsor, or kafeel, which is usually their employer. It has been used in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—as well as Jordan and Lebanon. Both Bahrain and Qatar claim to have abolished the system, though critics say reforms are poorly enforced and don’t amount to abolition.

Under this system, the state gives local individuals or companies sponsorship permits to employ foreign laborers (except in Bahrain, where workers are sponsored by a government agency rather than individual employers). The sponsor covers travel expenses and provides housing, often in dorm-like accommodations or, in the case of domestic workers, the sponsor’s home. Rather than hiring an individual directly, sponsors sometimes use private recruitment agencies [PDF] in the countries of origin to find workers and facilitate their entry to the host country.

These employers have complete control of those they hire. Redress for grievances and work and safety violations aren't available.   Its similar to being an indentured servant. 

The governing body's sub-committee on human rights and social responsibility concluded that Fifa "has a responsibility" to contribute to compensation for workers harmed by the tournament's preparation and delivery.

"There are workers who have contributed to the resounding success of the World Cup... who have not yet benefited from any, or any adequate remediation," it says.

What does Fifa say?

In response, Fifa said: "All reports and recommendations were considered during a comprehensive review by the Fifa administration and relevant bodies.

"While all recommendations could not be met, practical and impactful elements were retained. It should be noted that the study did not specifically constitute a legal assessment of the obligation to remedy.

Luis Rubiales suspended by Fifa over Women's World Cup kiss

Fifa has handed a 90-day suspension to the president of the Spanish football federation, Luis Rubiales. The suspension comes after he kissed Spanish midfielder Jenni Hermoso at the World Cup final medal ceremony, which he claims was consensual, but which Hermoso has strongly denied on social media.

A storm in a teacup': Fifa admits defeat on Saudi sponsorship of Women’s World Cup

 

Despite the Fifa president’s attempts to make light of the situation, this is a significant victory for organisers, who were left blindsided in January by reports suggesting a deal was close, given the Saudi state’s appalling human rights record, and had put significant public pressure on Fifa to change course.

Several players had also spoken out, including Arsenal’s Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema, who told Fifa it should be “deeply ashamed” for even considering such a deal. However, Infantino, who announced a $150m (£124m) prize fund for this year’s Women’s World Cup – a 300% rise from 2019 – said he didn’t see anything wrong with taking sponsorship from countries such as Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia codifies male guardianship and gender discrimination

As the world gathers to mark 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, Saudi Arabia’s continued imprisonment of women for their peaceful expression in support of women’s rights and imposition of travel bans against women human rights defenders are a crucial reminder of the inherently discriminatory systems women in the country face.

On International Women’s Day, on 8 March 2022, Saudi Arabia passed its first Personal Status Law (PSL). Previously, matters related to family life were subject to the discretionary application of the rules of Sharia (Islamic law) and interpretations of Islamic texts by a male dominated judiciary. At the time, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman praised the new law for its accordance “with the latest legal trends and modern international judicial practices”. In reality, however, the law codifies many of the informal yet widespread problematic practices inherent in the male guardianship system and entrenches a system of gender-based discrimination in most aspects of family life, including in marriage, divorce, and child custody.

Musawah, a global movement for equality and justice in the Muslim family, defines male guardianship, or wilayah, as “the right and duty of fathers or male family members to exercise guardianship over their dependent wards (female or male).”

Saudi Arabia: 10 Reasons Why Women Flee

Rahaf Mohammed, the Saudi woman who managed to successfully flee her allegedly abusive family, has shed new light on the countless women trapped under the abusive male guardianship system in Saudi Arabia, Human Rights Watch said today. Women face systematic discrimination and are left exposed to domestic violence under the male guardianship system and have few places to turn when they face abuse, leading some women to undertake dangerous escape attempts to flee the country.

Under the male guardianship system, a man controls a Saudi woman’s life from her birth until her death. Every Saudi woman must have a male guardian, normally a father or husband, but in some cases a brother or even a son, who has the power to make a range of critical decisions on her behalf. The Saudi state essentially treats women as permanent legal minors. Saudi Arabia has done very little to end the system, which remains the most significant impediment to women’s rights in the country.

Yet, FIFA can't see any problems with having Visit Saudi as a sponsor. 

The World Cup in Qatar sees a whirlwind of controversy

 

World Cup 2022, which kicks-off in Qatar on Nov. 20, has been surrounded by controversy since it was announced the tiny desert nation would host the tournament.

The plight of migrant workers in Qatar

Qatar's hosting of the upcoming 2022 World Cup has attracted thousands of migrant workers to build stadiums and other infrastructure. These foreigners left everything behind in search of a better life.

Fans threaten boycott of Qatar World Cup over corruption, human rights

 It's just a year until the football World Cup kicks off in Qatar. Allegations of vote buying and human rights abuses have marred the run-up to the competition. Some fans are threatening a boycott. But Qatar says it deserves to host the cup.

How TV gave us the classic soccer ball

When you think of a soccer ball, you probably imagine a classic black-and-white paneled ball. It’s known as the Telstar ball, and it was created thanks to TV. The 1966 World Cup in England was broadcast live across the globe and it was at this point that television became a huge part of the sport. Thanks to the BBC, it was seen by four hundred million people. But spotting the ball was a bit challenging. Back then, soccer balls looked more like reddish-brown volleyballs. And on black-and-white TVs, it didn’t really stand out from the green field.

Hong Kong football fans boo China's national anthem

Hong Kong football fans loudly booed and jeered China’s national anthem at a match on Thursday, defying Beijing days after Communist leaders tightened penalties for disrespecting the song.

Ahead of the start of an international friendly against Bahrain, which the home team lost 2-0, a wall of screams overtook the instrumental music broadcast over loudspeakers and the fans ended with a cry of “We are Hong Kong”.

Hong Kong football supporters have been protesting the anthem for more than two years since the 2014 Umbrella Movement, a series of pro-democracy street protests that failed to secure concessions on electoral reform from the Beijing government.

Domenico Scala: Fifa's independent audit committee president resigns

You've got love Fifa and it operates.  The U.S. Attorney General opens an investigation for bribery and corruption involving football's governing body which leads to criminal indictments against 12 Fifa officials and the resignation of the it's top three officials and the President of UEFA.  Fifa pledging to reform constitutes several oversight committees which are meant, not only to reform how Fifa operates but give the governing body more transparency.  On Friday that all was thrown into chaos  when members of Fifa's Congress voted to give the governing council the right to dismiss members of the independent committees. Yes, Fifa always willing to shoot itself in the foot at every opportunity.  

Domenico Scala, Fifa's head of auditing and compliance, has resigned in protest at reforms at the governing body of world football.

Scala is angry the new Fifa council will have the ability to appoint and sack those in charge of its committees, including auditing, ethics and finance.

The council replaced the Fifa executive committee, in the aftermath of a corruption scandal at the organisation.

Committees had been "deprived of their independence", said Scala.

Swiss official Scala, who has resigned with immediate effect, said the new reforms made it possible for the council to "impede investigations against single members at any time".

Panama: Yes, There's A Canal; For The Real Tourist It's Let's Play Hide The Cash

A storm is coming

By Frederik Obermaier and Bastian Obermayer

The interrogation room in which Iceland’s recent history was rewritten is sparse, furnished only with a table, some chairs, and a computer. A camera is fixed to the wall, and the frosted, double-glazed windows have completely blocked out the sound of the gale-force winds in Reykjavik’s Faxafloi Bay.

It was in this room that some of Iceland’s most powerful bankers, executives, and investors had to answer to special investigator Olaf Hauksson. A tall man with a heavy build, Haukkson has spent the past six years investigating the transactions that brought Iceland’s economy to its knees in October 2008.

It's ok because we, the great unwashed don't count or understand the need and motivation to hide vast wealth from the world's governments.  We, are the peasants living in a modern world believing we have a say in who governs us and life's outcomes. We don't as these documents prove.  Mass Delusion and we're all in.

Playing both sides

By Thomas Kistner, Frederik Obermaier, Bastian Obermayer, and Mauritius Much

FIFA the bastion of openness and transparency 

• Revealed: the $2bn offshore trail that leads to Vladimir Putin
• Iceland’s PM faces snap election over revelations
• What you need to know about the Panama Papers

Sepp Blatter Needs To Climb Down Off Of His Cross

Sepp Blatter FIFA President was suspended for eight years by the FIFA ethics committee today. In a news conference following the announcement  Sepp "I'm the martyr" Blatter  insisted he was the real victim.  Coming from the man who orchestrated the awarding of the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar two countries rife with human rights violations and who along with Sepp "I'm the real god" Blatter corrupted the bidding process even before the final vote was taken.  But, he's the real victim here and not world football or those harmed by his utter mismanagement.    

Speaking at a press conference in Zurich, Blatter – flanked by his daughter Corinne and sporting a plaster on his face caused by having a mole removed – claimed that he was a victim. “To say that it is a good day for me or for Fifa, it would be totally wrong” Blatter said.
“You can identify me as an optimist. Together with a Swiss lawyer, we thought that we had convinced the panel, with Mr Eckert in the chair, about the situation with the payment. We thought that we were in a situation that was clear, with a clean sheet.

Donald Trump is an amature when it comes to the an ego the size of the universe and playing the victim in comparison to Sepp "The Innocent" Blatter.

Blatter had appeared before the ethics committee last Thursday, protesting his innocence in a letter to all 209 Fifa members in which he likened the process to the Spanish inquisition. On Monday, he continued to defend himself, making reference to Nelson Mandela.
“Mr Mandela was talking about humanity. Humanity needs no other significance than to respect each other and I say that to celebrate humanity through football was created by this great humanist.

The Spanish Inquisition and Nelson Mandela?  Who does he think he is? Galileo or Jesus? It's difficult to  tell given the amount of delusion.

Sepp Blatter: The Teflon Don To Resign

The head of the World Football Mafia is resigning;  Mr. See No Evil, Speak No Evil and Hear No Evil is out. 

Sepp Blatter says he will resign as president of football's governing body Fifa amid a corruption scandal.

In announcing his exit, the 79-year-old Swiss has called an extraordinary Fifa congress "as soon as possible" to elect a new president.
Blatter was re-elected last week, despite seven top Fifa officials being arrested two days before the vote as part of a US prosecution.
But he said: "My mandate does not appear to be supported by everybody."

  Blatter, who has been Fifa president since 1998, said: "The next ordinary Fifa congress will take place on 13 May, 2016 in Mexico City.


"This would create unnecessary delay and I will urge the executive committee to organise an extraordinary congress for the election of my successor at the earliest opportunity.
"This will need to be done in line with Fifa's statutes and we must allow enough time for the best candidates to present themselves and to campaign."

Coming Soon From FIFA

Who Says FIFA Isn't Corrupt

Swiss police arrest Fifa officials in Zurich

Six football officials have been arrested over corruption charges at governing body Fifa, at aHOTEL IN Zurich, Switzerland.

The suspects, who are said to include a Fifa vice-president, have been detained pending extradition to the US.

It involves alleged bribes worth about $100m (£65m; €92m) over two decades.

Fifa members are gathering in Zurich for their annual meeting on Friday, where incumbent President Sepp Blatter is seeking a fifth term.

However, Mr Blatter is not understood to be one of those arrested.

'Seeking clarification'

The New York Times says plain-clothed police officers took theROOM KEYSfrom the reception of Baur au Lac hotel, where the officials were staying, and headed to their rooms. It said the operation was carried out peacefully.

Jeffrey Webb - head of the confederation for North and Central America and the Caribbean - has been named as one of the officials arrested, says the BBC's Richard Conway, who is at theZURICH HOTEL.

FIFA isn't about world football, its about enrichment of footballs top execitives.   Just look at where the next two World Cup's are being staged. Russia and Qatar.  If there wasn't corruption inolved in those winning bids then Harry Potter is a real person. 

Qatar Shows The World It's Ready For The World Cup By Arresting Journalists

As if Qatar doesn't have enough problems with it in its efforts to build the necessary infrastructure to host a World Cup.  Now they are arresting journalists they invited to view improvements in workers living conditions after out cry over their treatment of migrant workers.

    We were invited to Qatar by the prime minister's office to see new flagship accommodation for low-paid migrant workers - but while gathering additional material for our report, we ended up being thrown into prison for doing our jobs.Our arrest was dramatic.
We were on a quiet stretch of road in the capital, Doha, on our way to film a group of workers from Nepal.
The working and housing conditions of migrant workers constructing new buildings in Qatar ahead of the World Cup have been heavily criticised and we wanted to see them for ourselves.
Suddenly, eight white cars surrounded our vehicle and directed us on to a side road at speed.
A dozen security officers frisked us in the street, shouting at us when we tried to talk. They took away our equipment and hard drives and drove us to their headquarters.

The Qatari government is doing themselves no favors with self inflicted wounds the keep giving themselves.

It was meant to be the first day of our PR tour but instead we were later handcuffed and taken to be questioned for a second time, at the department of public prosecutions.
Thirteen hours of waiting around and questioning later, one of the interrogators snapped. "This is not Disneyland," he barked. "You can't stick your camera anywhere."
It was as if he felt we were treating his country like something to be gawped at, suggesting we thought of trips to see controversial housing and working conditions as a form of entertainment.
In perfect English and with more than a touch of malice, he threatened us with another four days in prison - to teach us a lesson.

   

Hassan al-Thawadi: 'A clear bias' against Qatar

The man in charge of Qatar World Cup 2022 discusses allegations of FIFA bidding corruption and poor labour conditions.

From the moment in December 2010 when Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup, critics have called for the Gulf state to be stripped of its right to host football's biggest tournament.

Qatar has since faced allegations of corrupt practices during the bid process.

FIFA, the sport's governing body, commissioned an investigation into all the countries involved in bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.


Headed by American lawyer Michael Garcia, a summary of his findings as presented by FIFA cleared Qatar of any serious wrongdoing. But Garcia later resigned and recanted the report, saying the summary FIFA made public was incomplete and did not accurately reflect the facts and conclusions of his own report.

And these are not the only concerns for Qatar.

The country is accused of exploiting workers and of still not having the required stadium cooling technology that would make a summer World Cup possible.

Qatar The World Cup and slave labor
Abuse and exploitation of migrant workers preparing emirate for 2022

World Cup 2022: The Dark Side of the Qatar Dream

The World Cup awarded to Qatar has turned from what should be a joyous occasion into a nightmare for those tasked with building the needed infrastructure that comes with hosting such an event. Working conditions and the deaths of more than 900 workers from India, Bangladesh and India have shown a harsh light on the human rights abuses the government of Qatar and Fifa are willing to tolerate all in the name of profit and prestige.

Fifa President Sepp Blatter's only regret about awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar is that it gets unbearably hot and humid during the summer months. He and the Fifia governing council aren't concerned with the deaths of construction workers or their human rights that's someone else's problem as they aren't the United Nations.

When The Person Fifa Hired To Investigate Corruption Calls B.S.

Fifa hired former New York District Attorney Michael Garcia to investigate allegations in the bidding process which awarded the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. An investigation he spent 18 months on was abruptly closed by German judge  Hans-Joachim Eckert Mr. Garcia took exception to the judges actions saying his conclusions didn't match what id findings stated.

But when German judge Hans-Joachim Eckert today closed the investigation after ruling that there was not enough evidence to justify re-opening the process, a furious Garcia said the summary he had published did not reflect his findings.
“Today’s decision by the Chairman of the Adjudicatory Chamber contains numerous materially incomplete and erroneous representations of the facts and conclusions detailed in the Investigatory Chamber’s report,” said Garcia, who has spent 18 months gathering evidence from the nine bidding nations and interviewed more than 75 witnesses.
He said that he would now appeal himself to the Fifa ethics committee. The incendiary intervention lays bare the tension at the heart of Fifa’s two chamber ethics committee.

 Just like the abuse of the workers constructing the stadiums for the 2022 World Cup Fifa just turns a blind eye and worries about the profits to be had.