UEFA has launched a furious attack on FIFA after the governing body suspended Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban, allowing the United States striker to be available for their World Cup last-16 clash with Belgium.
Belgium have appealed to get USA striker Folarin Balogun re-banned for their last-16 game
Balogun had been expected to miss the knockout tie after receiving a straight red card during the USA’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32. But the case took a dramatic turn when FIFA delayed the implementation of the suspension for a one-year probationary period, meaning the forward can play unless he commits another similar offence during that time.
The decision has triggered a major row over sporting integrity. UEFA described the move as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable”, arguing that an automatic one-match suspension after a red card should not be treated as optional. The European body warned that changing the application of such a rule in the middle of a tournament risks damaging trust in the competition and creating a dangerous precedent.
Donald Trump had called FIFA president Gianni Infantino – and later thanked the organisation for ‘reversing a great injustice’
The controversy grew even further after Donald Trump said he had spoken to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked for the incident to be reviewed. The US president claimed he did not believe Balogun’s challenge was a foul and later thanked FIFA for “reversing a great injustice”.
Belgium’s football association has reacted with anger and confirmed it is challenging Balogun’s eligibility. The RBFA said it had requested FIFA’s decision and an explanation of the process, but claimed it had not received the information needed to mount a proper appeal. Belgium said it would continue to fight in defence of fair competition and the wider interests of football.
Balogun was sent off for a tackle during their 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina
Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday morning to praise FIFA for ‘doing what was right’
The decision to show Balogun a straight red card sparked widespread fury on social media
FIFA president Gianni Infantino pictured alongside Donald Trump last month
The case has also drawn criticism from across the game. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter warned that football should never become a playground for political power, while the German Football Association called on FIFA to explain the reports of political involvement quickly and clearly. England manager Thomas Tuchel also questioned where such decisions begin and end, asking whether teams would now seek to appeal every controversial card.
FIFA cited Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which allows the implementation of a disciplinary measure to be suspended. Critics, however, have pointed to rules stating that a red card brings an automatic suspension for the next match.
For Belgium, the timing could hardly be more frustrating. Instead of preparing only for the match, they are now caught in a legal and ethical dispute over whether one of the USA’s key attacking players should be allowed on the pitch.
Whatever happens in the last-16 clash, the Balogun case has already become one of the most explosive controversies of the World Cup. At the heart of it is a question that reaches far beyond one player: are football’s rules still applied equally when politics, power and pressure enter the conversation?
