Infantino apologizes to FIFA Council as Balogun case prompts rule change

Gianni Infantino apologized to FIFA's ruling council in Zurich as UEFA delegates pressed him over his World Cup investment plan and the Folarin Balogun suspension case.

• The Belgian Football Association announced FIFA will amend Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which allows suspending player sanctions, after the Balogun red card case.
• Trump said he personally asked Infantino to reconsider the automatic suspension that let Balogun play against Belgium.
• Belgian FA president Pascale Van Damme said the proposed amendment will be presented at the FIFA Council meeting in Doha on December 16.
• Infantino apologized to the council but provided no documents on the $4.2 billion World Cup investment plan he launched and withdrew in July.
• Infantino gave no satisfactory answers as the FIFA Council pressed him over the failed World Cup investment plan.
• German FA chief Bernd Neuendorf and English FA chief Debbie Hewitt criticized the lack of transparency in the case.
• The council also weighed a $6.35 billion development fund ahead of Infantino's re-election bid in March.
• Infantino confirmed the plan to sell a stake in FIFA tournaments to outside investors was permanently withdrawn.
• The FIFA Council tabled a proposal giving each of its 211 member associations $25 million, citing an expected $5.2-5.6 billion surplus for 2023-2026.