Folarin Balogun will play against Belgium in the World Cup Round of 16 on Monday. FIFA announced that his automatic one-game suspension for a red card has been suspended for a year. That decision has European soccer’s governing body absolutely livid.
Balogun was sent off in the USMNT’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina last Wednesday. He made contact with Tarik Muharemovic, which led to a straight red. Under normal tournament rules, that means a mandatory one-match ban. But FIFA hit pause on it, citing a rule that allows any punishment to be deferred.
Here’s where it gets messy. According to reports, President Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to discuss Balogun’s red card. The reversal followed soon after. Trump and Infantino have a well-documented friendship. FIFA awarded Trump its first-ever Peace Prize back in December, a move that drew plenty of side-eye around the world.
UEFA doesn’t hold back
UEFA released a statement that was not subtle. They called FIFA’s decision unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable. The exact phrasing: “We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.”
The statement went further. UEFA argued that a minimum automatic suspension after a red card is not a discretionary option. It’s a principle embedded in the rules, they said, and it can’t be made subject to exceptions. Especially not in the middle of a tournament when other players have served the same suspension without special treatment.
“FIFA undermined the integrity and credibility of the game,” the statement read. UEFA also warned this could set a dangerous precedent for future tournaments.
Belgium’s camp was reportedly astonished that Balogun was cleared to play. He’s got three goals in the tournament so far and has been one of the USMNT’s most dangerous players.
Trump’s fingerprints all over this
Trump’s relationship with Infantino has been a topic of quiet chatter for months. The Peace Prize thing raised eyebrows. Now a direct call from the White House to FIFA’s president results in a red card getting wiped. It’s the kind of story that makes other federations wonder what the rules actually mean.
Thirteen players have been sent off during this World Cup. All of them sat out the next game. Except Balogun.
The USMNT is trying to reach the quarterfinals for only the second time in program history. They’ll have their star striker on the field when they face Belgium. And a lot of people in the soccer world think that shouldn’t be the case.
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