Fifa has responded to accusations of hypocrisy from Uefa regarding the decision to lift the suspension of USA striker Folarin Balogun. The controversy follows Balogun’s red card in the USA‘s last-32 victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which typically incurs an automatic one-match ban in the World Cup.
In a statement attributed to Mohammad al-Kamali, chair of Fifa‘s disciplinary committee, the organisation defended its decision, calling it a “balanced measure” and “nothing new in the modern game.” The statement was released prior to the USA‘s last-16 defeat to Belgium.
Uefa had previously issued a strong statement, accusing Fifa of crossing “a red line” and undermining the integrity of the World Cup by allowing Balogun to play against Belgium. However, Fifa countered by highlighting that the overturning of red cards is a common disciplinary measure in leagues affiliated with Uefa, suggesting this practice has not previously raised concerns about crossing any “red line.”
The reprieve for Balogun, which allowed him to participate in the match against Belgium, is considered unprecedented in a World Cup context. This decision followed repeated lobbying efforts directed at Fifa by Donald Trump and other high-ranking officials from the White House.
Fifa‘s statement clarified that the red card itself was not overturned, but rather the implementation of the automatic match suspension was suspended for a probationary period of one year. This action was taken under Article 27 of the Fifa disciplinary code, which grants the disciplinary committee discretion to suspend the implementation of disciplinary measures, provided they do not relate to match manipulation.
The organisation emphasised that the use of Article 27 is not unprecedented, citing similar decisions made during the Fifa World Cup 2026 qualifiers. It also stated that there are no provisions in the Fifa disciplinary code or the regulations for the Fifa World Cup 26 that prohibit the disciplinary committee from exercising this discretion, asserting that such an exercise is consistent with general guiding principles for determining applicable disciplinary sanctions.
Initially, Fifa remained silent on the matter until Donald Trump publicly disclosed his involvement, revealing in a press conference that he had contacted Gianni Infantino, the Fifa president, to request a review of the red card. Infantino subsequently issued his own statement, insisting he was not involved in the decision-making process.
Mohammad al-Kamali‘s statement did not address Trump‘s role directly but affirmed that the disciplinary committee operates independently of the executive body, which Infantino leads. Infantino himself claimed he was unaware of the disciplinary committee’s decision until after its publication, noting that he reads decisions when they are issued and sometimes finds them surprising, agreeing or disagreeing with them.
The USA ultimately lost to Belgium with a score of 4-1. During coverage of the World Cup 2026, pundits Thierry Henry and Alexi Lalas engaged in a heated discussion regarding Fifa‘s handling of Balogun’s suspension. Henry, who previously served as an assistant coach for the USMNT, claimed that Trump‘s intervention and Fifa‘s decision inspired the international team. He clarified that his earlier reference to Article 27 was sarcastic, stating he believed the initial red card was incorrect but disagreed with the method used to rescind the ban, arguing the decision should have been made on the field.
Lalas challenged Henry’s stance, questioning why the decision was not considered right, and referenced Cristiano Ronaldo‘s suspension being overturned before the World Cup finals. Henry maintained his opinion that what Fifa did “wasn’t right” in terms of the process, despite agreeing that the initial red card was undeserved. Lalas, however, asserted that Fifa “didn’t break any rules or regulations.”
The debate continued with Zlatan Ibrahimovic present between the two analysts. Henry reiterated his disagreement with the way the situation unfolded after the initial incident. Belgium remains dissatisfied with Fifa‘s decision and is reportedly considering taking the matter to the court of arbitration for sport.
As Latest News UK's Sports Reporter, Hannah Whitfield reports on tennis, cricket and athletics for readers across the country. She built her name covering the county circuit and Team GB at two Commonwealth Games. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from Loughborough University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Hannah lives in Bristol, where she plays club tennis and coaches a junior side. “Sport is at its best when you let the athletes tell the story.”