The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has criticised FIFA’s decision to suspend the immediate enforcement of Folarin Balogun’s automatic one-match ban, describing the move as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”
The ruling allows the United States striker to play against Belgium in Tuesday’s FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match despite receiving a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
UEFA said FIFA’s intervention to effectively cancel an automatic suspension during the tournament had “crossed a red line” and warned that the decision could undermine confidence in the competition’s disciplinary process.
UEFA questions FIFA’s interpretation
In a statement, UEFA said an automatic one-match suspension following a red card “is not a discretionary option” but “a principle embedded in regulations.”
“When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined.
“Equally, such a decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition.
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“We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.”
According to UEFA, Balogun’s case is only the second instance at a FIFA World Cup in which a player has avoided suspension after a red card.
The previous case involved Brazil’s Garrincha at the 1962 World Cup, before automatic bans were introduced.
Trump call adds to controversy
The decision has attracted further attention after reports confirmed that Balogun’s reinstatement came after United States President Donald Trump spoke by telephone with FIFA president Gianni Infantino about the suspension.
Trump later thanked FIFA on Truth Social for “reversing a great injustice.”
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA), whose team will face the United States, said it was “astonished” by FIFA’s decision.
Belgium’s Foreign Minister, Maxime Prevot, also questioned the circumstances surrounding the ruling.
“If a phone call is really the reason for this incomprehensible decision, it would be a blatant violation of the most basic rules of football and sport.”
Former FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, also criticised the development on X.
Blatter said, “Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies. Football must never become a playground for political power.”
Tuchel calls for consistency
England head coach, Thomas Tuchel, said the decision had created uncertainty over the tournament’s disciplinary process.
With Jarell Quansah suspended after being sent off in England’s 3-2 victory over Mexico, Tuchel questioned how future disciplinary decisions would be handled.
“Where does this start and where does this end now? Can we overturn it or not overturn it? What’s going on?
“We just want to have consistency in the decisions.”
Although Tuchel said he did not believe Balogun’s challenge warranted a red card, he argued that once the referee and video assistant referee (VAR) had reached a decision, the process for overturning it should be clear and consistently applied.
Belgium considers legal action
Belgium head coach, Rudi Garcia, also criticised FIFA’s decision.
He said, “I didn’t know that [at] the FIFA World Cup 5 July is now 1 April, and that is April Fool’s.
“We are not defending the national team or the federation, we’re defending football.”
The RBFA has described the matter as a legal issue rather than a sporting one and is expected to issue a further statement.
According to The Athletic, Belgium has been granted the right to appeal FIFA’s decision, an unusual step that allows a future opponent to participate in a disciplinary case. If FIFA upholds its ruling, the matter could be referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which has established an ad hoc panel to hear expedited appeals during the tournament.
FIFA regulation at the centre of dispute
Balogun was sent off after his foot landed on the ankle of Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic during the United States’ Round of 32 victory.
FIFA relied on a provision in its disciplinary code that allows it to suspend the implementation of a disciplinary sanction.
However, critics argue that the decision conflicts with the FIFA World Cup competition regulations, which state that any player shown a red card is automatically suspended for their team’s next match.
