Jurgen Klopp nails it as Liverpool legend wades into 'crazy' World Cup row
The legendary Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp pulled no punches when discussing Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino while working as a World Cup pundit on television
Jürgen Klopp has labelled claims that Donald Trump contacted Gianni Infantino before FIFA suspended Folarin Balogun's ban as 'crazy'. The United States president reportedly spoke with his counterpart before the ruling, urging him not to enforce a one-match suspension automatically.
Balogun is now free to feature for the US in their round-of-16 clash against Belgium following an almost unparalleled intervention by football's governing body. The only comparable precedent in World Cup history saw Brazil's Garrincha have his ban overturned ahead of the 1962 final.
64 years on, Klopp has spoken out against the move as the controversy swirls. The former Liverpool boss is currently working as a pundit in North America.
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The allegations regarding Trump contacting Infantino were put to him on Magenta TV. Klopp responded: "If that really was the case, then that's crazy. Let's just say: this is our game, not theirs. These two people, who both have no idea about football, should have nothing to do with that.
"That was a red card, there's no two ways about it. We're sorry for Balogun because he didn't mean to do it, but that's what the rules say."
FIFA confirmed the ruling on Sunday. Their Disciplinary Committee stated: "By operation of Article 27 FDC, the implementation of the automatic match suspension for USA player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year.
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"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."
Article 27 of FIFA's disciplinary code reads: "The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure. By suspending the implementation of the sanction, the judicial body subjects the person sanctioned to a probationary period of one to four years.
"If the person benefiting from a suspended sanction commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked by the judicial body and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement."
Trump took to Truth Social to respond to the U-turn, stating: "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!"