The U.S. men’s national team got its star striker back for the World Cup round of 16. But the way it happened has European soccer’s governing body seeing red.
Folarin Balogun was sent off in the Americans’ win over Bosnia and Herzegovina after stepping on defender Tarik Muharemovic’s ankle. That should have meant a one-game automatic suspension, which would have kept him out of Saturday’s match against Belgium in Seattle.
Instead, FIFA activated something called Article 27. That allowed them to suspend the ban for a probationary period of one year. Meaning Balogun is eligible to play.
Trump got involved. So did UEFA.
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social after the decision: “Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
UEFA responded with a sharply worded statement that basically accused FIFA of making up rules as they go. They called the decision “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”
“Yesterday’s decision to suspend for a probationary period of a year the implementation of the one-match automatic suspension following the red card issued to the player Folarin Balogun crossed a red line,” the statement read.
UEFA argued that automatic suspensions for red cards are not open to interpretation. They said the rule is a basic principle of competition, not a suggestion that can be waived mid-tournament. And they pointed out that other players in similar situations had already served their bans.
“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,” the statement continued. “Such decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment.”
Belgium reportedly appealed first
According to reports, Belgium’s federation challenged the suspension after scraping past Senegal in extra time to set up the meeting with the USMNT. It’s not clear yet whether they planned to take the fight to the Court of Arbitration for Sport or if UEFA’s statement is the extent of their pushback.
Balogun’s red card came in the 64th minute of a tense knockout game. Replays showed his studs dragging across Muharemovic’s ankle. It wasn’t a straight leg breaker, but it wasn’t accidental contact either. Most observers expected the automatic ban to stick.
FIFA’s decision to essentially hit pause on that ban has opened the door for questions about consistency. If Article 27 can be used here, why not for someone else later in the tournament? UEFA’s frustration is pretty clear: they think FIFA just made up a favor for the host nation.
Balogun is expected to start against Belgium on Saturday in Seattle. The USMNT has not commented publicly on the controversy beyond confirming he’s available.
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