The USA football team’s World Cup journey took a surprising turn on Sunday when FIFA appeared to disregard its own regulations, permitting star player Folarin Balogun to participate in Monday’s Round of 16 match against Belgium, despite receiving a red card in the earlier Round of 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The global governing body of football announced the suspension of the red card—previously resulting in a mandatory one-match ban—after U.S. President Donald Trump urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to reevaluate the situation.
Balogun, who plays for Monaco in France, is the co-hosts’ leading scorer in the tournament, having netted three goals thus far.
This decision drew criticism from Belgium’s football association and various prominent figures in the sport. Detractors argued that overturning the suspension under direct political pressure jeopardized the tournament’s integrity and set a troubling precedent.
On Monday evening, Belgium’s football association claimed that FIFA effectively eliminated any possibility for it to contest the decision.
Here’s a closer examination of the events and the controversy they have sparked:
Why was Balogun issued a red card?
Balogun was shown a red card for awkwardly stepping on Tarik Muharemovic’s ankle during the 2-0 victory over Bosnia, leading to an automatic one-match suspension.
Opinions among fans and commentators were split regarding the validity of the red card. Some considered it warranted, while others believed Balogun’s near-fall led to accidental contact rather than a deliberate foul. Balogun himself stated that he felt a yellow card would have been more appropriate.
Following Trump’s intervention, Balogun’s red card suspension was lifted, allowing him to compete against Belgium on Monday.
FIFA invoked Article 27 of its disciplinary code to reverse the ban.
“The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure,” the rule states, indicating a probationary period of one to four years for the sanctioned individual.
While the US Soccer Federation (USSF) did not make Balogun available for comment, the player shared a social media post featuring himself with fans, set to Michael Jackson’s “Bad.”
Has this occurred previously?
This marks the first instance since 1962 that a World Cup red card has not resulted in an automatic suspension.
During the 1962 World Cup in Chile, Brazilian star Garrincha received a red card in a semifinal match but was ultimately allowed to continue playing after a disciplinary panel opted for a warning. Garrincha went on to help Brazil secure a victory in the final against Czechoslovakia.
More recently, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo was permitted to play in the World Cup after FIFA suspended the last two matches of a three-match ban imposed after a red card against the Republic of Ireland, initially set to keep him out of the tournament’s opening games.
In contrast, Qatar’s Assim Madibo received a five-match ban for a serious foul that injured Canada’s Ismael Kone during the group stage.
Monday’s match will unfold amid a controversy that has become a hallmark of the tournament, with discussions about FIFA’s authority unlikely to conclude with the final whistle.
What were the reactions to the red card suspension?
The decision to suspend Balogun’s red card has ignited significant controversy in the tournament.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) expressed being “astonished.”
“To uphold the legitimate rights of all participating teams and maintain the core principles of fair play in sport, both for this FIFA World Cup and future competitions, the RBFA is exploring all available options,” the association stated.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia criticized FIFA’s actions, remarking that it felt like “April Fools’ Day in the FIFA offices.” He emphasized that the federation fights for the integrity of football, not just the national team.
UEFA released a statement on Monday, asserting that “the suspension of the automatic one-match ban following Balogun’s red card crossed a red line,” labeling it an “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.”
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter also disapproved, stating, “Red cards should not be overturned due to political phone calls; they should be addressed through rules and independent bodies.” He raised concerns about FIFA’s integrity following Trump’s involvement.
Football figures shared their dissent as well, including Norway’s coach Stale Solbakken, who deemed the decision detrimental to the World Cup.
England’s coach Thomas Tuchel questioned the potential implications on future decisions, citing his own team’s experience with player suspensions.
Pundits echoed these sentiments during a panel discussion on ITV, with former England player Ian Wright criticizing the undermining of integrity and transparency.
What role did Trump play?
Trump contacted Infantino after the match, requesting that FIFA reevaluate the red card. He confirmed this in an Oval Office Q&A session with reporters.
“I’ve seen the play. I understand sports well, and that wasn’t even a foul; it was just two players colliding,” Trump stated, also questioning the integrity of the referee, Brazil’s Raphael Claus.
He later expressed gratitude to FIFA on social media for what he viewed as a rectification of an injustice.
Infantino responded to Trump’s inquiry, defending FIFA’s position and emphasizing that reviews are conducted independently. He claimed that while he does consult with heads of state, he does not interfere with disciplinary decisions.
Pochettino endorsed FIFA’s recent decision, referencing the unfair circumstance of playing with fewer players due to Balogun’s red card.
Pochettino acknowledged the influence of football on unifying people, identifying it as a pivotal element of culture in both Argentina and Europe.
What rules have critics indicated FIFA violated?
According to the Belgian football association, which is considering challenging FIFA’s decision, the governing body has breached several of its own rules.
FIFA justified its actions based on Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which allows suspension of previously imposed disciplinary measures.
However, the RBFA cited Article 66.4, which enforces an automatic one-match suspension following a red card, as well as Article 10.5 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations. This Article states that players sent off due to a red card will face a mandatory suspension in their next match.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Circular No. 16 also confirms the automatic one-match suspension that follows a red card.
What are the latest developments?
On Monday afternoon, the Belgian football association issued a statement about its communications with FIFA.
It noted that it had requested a copy of FIFA’s decision and an explanation, but only received a reply suggesting that its inquiry was an appeal, with a judge assigned and a limited time for the RBFA to respond. The communication lacked any substantive information.
The RBFA further claimed that FIFA’s rules necessitate providing reasons for any decisions made. It accused FIFA of creating a situation that prevents legitimate inquiries while avoiding transparency.
Moreover, they pointed out that unlike all previous World Cup games, FIFA did not refer to the section about automatic suspensions during the pre-match coordination meeting for the Belgium-U.S. game, and failed to respond to inquiries about this omission.
