FIFA is set to change its rulebook to stop a repeat of the Folarin Balogun controversy. The governing body will propose an amendment to explicitly prohibit the suspension of automatic one-match bans at its Council meeting in Zurich on Thursday.

The move follows a major dispute over political interference. FIFA's disciplinary committee had suspended a mandatory ban for the United States forward during the World Cup after former US President Donald Trump revealed he personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review.

Hewitt seeks full explanation

Football Association chair and FIFA vice-president Debbie Hewitt is among those demanding a full account of how Balogun's suspension was set aside. Hewitt wrote to Infantino last month asking for all documents related to the case to be disclosed.

Infantino has repeatedly stated the disciplinary panel acted independently of his office. The proposed rule change, however, is seen as an attempt to close a loophole and restore confidence in the process.

Pressure on Infantino

The Council meeting will also see Infantino face pressure over the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal. That plan, developed without consulting the Council, aimed to create a commercial arm with private investment to oversee World Cup rights.

Its disclosure led to calls for Infantino's resignation from the presidents of three continental confederations, including UEFA, over the summer. Despite that, Infantino remains intent on standing for a fourth term as president next year.

He appears to have consolidated his position, securing unanimous backing from the Confederation of African Football last week alongside strong support across South and Central America, Oceania, and Asia. The president of the Asian Football Confederation, who had urged Infantino to resign in August, has since softened his stance in a letter advocating for a governance reform working group.

UEFA has committed to putting forward a credible opposition candidate before the 18 November deadline, but any challenger faces a formidable task.

Financial distribution on the agenda

A significant financial proposal is also scheduled for discussion. FIFA administrators will ask the Council to approve a plan to distribute $6.35 billion to member nations and confederations over the next three years. This includes a payment of $25 million to each of FIFA's 211 member countries, more than doubling the amount originally scheduled for the 2027-2030 cycle.

The plan comes after UEFA and CONCACAF presidents wrote to Infantino in September urging a one-time release of $10 million per association from FIFA's cash reserves, estimated at $6 billion. They argued it would show members do not have to choose "between development and good governance; between investment and integrity."

Other business

Infantino may also face questions over a reported £1.3 million payment he received in 2024 from an American FIFA World Cup subsidiary, which was omitted from the annual financial report. Scrutiny is also expected on FIFA's lease for office space in New York's Trump Tower, where it reportedly agreed to pay $4 million over seven years.

The Council is also set to discuss the FIFA Peace Prize, seeking clarity on the award process after it was presented to Donald Trump last December, and is expected to confirm host nations for several competitions, including the inaugural Women's Club World Cup in 2028, with the United States regarded as the front-runner. Sheffield Wednesday's next fixture is at home to AFC Wimbledon on 17 October.

First reported at LiveScore