UEFA called FIFA's decision to cancel the disqualification of US national team forward Folarin Balogun before the match against Belgium in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup incomprehensible, stating that these actions of the football organization crossed the red lines of football integrity. This is stated in a UEFA statement, reports UNN.
Yesterday's decision to suspend the automatic one-match disqualification on a one-year probationary period after issuing a red card to player Folarin Balogun crossed the red line. Football, like any other sport, is based on rules that form the foundation of fair, just, and transparent competition. Sometimes rules allow for different interpretations. In this case - no. The minimum automatic one-match disqualification after receiving a red card is not a discretionary decision and does not require a decision by a competent body to be applied
The organization stated that this is a principle enshrined in the regulations, which cannot be subject to exceptions, especially in the midst of a tournament where several other players found themselves in the same situation and regularly served their disqualifications.
When those who are supposed to ensure compliance with the rules no longer guarantee their certainty, the integrity of the game is at risk, and the authority of the competition is undermined. Moreover, such a decision sets a precedent in the current tournament, where similar situations will now require equal treatment, which will negatively affect the competition. We express our surprise at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustified decision
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Notably, in the Round of 32 match of the World Cup between the US national team and Bosnia and Herzegovina, American forward Folarin Balogun received a direct red card in the 64th minute for a foul on Tarik Muharemovic. The match ended with a US victory - 2:0.
Balogun was supposed to miss the match against Belgium, who defeated Senegal in the Round of 32, but FIFA cancelled the one-match disqualification of US national team forward Folarin Balogun, which will allow him to play in the Round of 16 match of the World Cup against Belgium. According to the Associated Press citing sources, this was preceded by a personal phone call from US President Donald Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The Belgian Football Federation stated that they are "shocked" by the FIFA decision and are considering the possibility of appealing it.
President Donald Trump on his social media thanked FIFA for the "right decision" to allow Balogun to play against Belgium.
"Thank you to FIFA for doing the right thing and correcting a great injustice," Trump wrote.
The FIFA decision was also criticized by the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"As a former football referee, I have always followed the rules and cared about the fairness of decisions. This decision undoubtedly raises many questions," - said Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot in a comment to POLITICO.
Head coach of the Belgian national team Rudi Garcia reacted with sarcasm to the scandalous FIFA decision during a press conference.
"I didn't know the game would take place on April Fools' Day, not July 6," Garcia said.
Also, the Federation's decision caused outrage in the football community. Thus, German coach Jürgen Klopp, who is preparing to take over the German national team after the resignation of Julian Nagelsmann, stated: "If Trump and Infantino really made a deal between themselves, then this is madness, it calls everything into question. These two people, both of whom have not the slightest idea about football, should not have any involvement in this. This is our game, not theirs."
"There can be no two opinions. If it really is like that: there is still a possibility that the US still won't field him, because they will say: 'We don't want it that way.' We all suffer from wrong decisions. But throughout life we all learn to live with it. And this is simply a decision based on facts," said Klopp on MagentaTV.
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who is accused of creating and operating an international criminal corruption scheme at FIFA, wrote on X: "Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned based on rules, evidence, and decisions of independent bodies. If the US President interferes in the affairs of the FIFA President - and a player is suddenly acquitted before a World Cup playoff match - the question inevitably arises: 'Where are you going, FIFA?'. Football must never become a platform for political power."
The Athletic reports that Belgium was granted the right to appeal FIFA's decision to suspend the one-match disqualification imposed on Folarin Balogun less than 24 hours before the Round of 16 match against the USA.
As the publication writes, the Belgian Football Association was asked to submit its arguments by 5:00 AM Pacific Time on Monday (15:00 Kyiv time - ed.). However, according to the publication, Belgium did not receive FIFA's decision on Balogun because it is not being made public.
A member of the FIFA Appeals Committee who does not represent any federation in either UEFA or CONCACAF was chosen to consider the case, in order to avoid any potential conflict of interest.
"Now the appeal must be filed by Monday morning, and a decision could be made before the start of the match, but FIFA did not provide Belgium with any guarantees that it would be so," the publication adds.
Notably, the match between the USA and Belgium will take place on July 7 at 3:00 Kyiv time in Seattle, Washington, at the "Lumen Field".