A new low in the stained reign of ‘integrity’ Infantino

Lifting the suspension that ruled Cristiano Ronaldo out of the opening World Cup games kills the very thing Fifa is meant to uphold, writes Miguel Delaney in Washington DC

- Miguel Delaney

When you speak to those near the very top of Fifa, pretty much as close to Gianni Infantino’s presidential office as you can get, many still declare themselves baffled by the decision to suspend two matches of Cristiano Ronaldo’s ban.

They weren’t privy to any extra explanation about the process or rationale, beyond the brief statement to which the global body has directed media, as well as references to the fact that this was the 40-year-old's first international red card.

Fifa duly cited Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which allows its judicial committee the option to “fully or partially suspend” such disciplinary measures. So, an “elbowing” offence that is normally supposed to bring a minimum of a three-match suspension only brings one. It isn't completely unprecedented – but it is unusual.

That can be felt in the response of the wider game, as many struggle to understand the rationale. Ronaldo may not have been sent off for Portugal, but he has received 12 red cards. It's far from an uncharacteristic moment that warrants leniency.

Ronaldo himself understands how real power works. He's been closer to it than most footballers.

Fifa’s decision was all the more conspicuous, given that it dropped a mere six days after Ronaldo’s appearance at a state dinner at the White House. It was quite a setting for his first photographs in the US since the 2018 leak of allegations of sexual assault, which Ronaldo denies and have never been proven.

The selfie featuring Elon Musk and Infantino inevitably generated the greatest number of responses, but the very room offered a snapshot of where the game is as it heads into 2026.