The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has accused FIFA of 'crossing the line' over the suspension of a one-match ban for United States striker Folarin Balogun at the 2026 World Cup. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
UEFA stressed that a minimum automatic one-match suspension after a red card is a basic requirement that should not be subject to double interpretation or exceptions.
Such a decision in the middle of the 2026 World Cup creates inequality, as other players have already served their suspensions for similar offenses in the normal manner.
'When the compliance guaranteed by the rules is no longer enforced by their guardians, the integrity of the game is threatened and trust in the competition is undermined. Similarly, such a decision sets a precedent in the current tournament, where similar situations will now require equal treatment, damaging the competition.
Football is the most popular sport in the world because it is a beautiful game, and it is trusted because it is played by the same rules everywhere. A tournament is never completely independent, and when it comes to the World Cup, it can have both positive and negative impacts on the game as a whole.
We express our bewilderment at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustified decision,' the UEFA statement said.
Balogun received a straight red card in the round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina and was supposed to automatically miss the round of 16 match against Belgium. However, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee took an unprecedented step: it applied Article 27 of the Disciplinary Code and replaced the one-match ban with a one-year probationary period. This allowed the forward to play in the crucial playoff match.
FIFA's decision was preceded by reports that US President Donald Trump personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino three times demanding a review of the punishment.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has already filed an official appeal against FIFA's decision. Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter also criticized the organization, saying football should not become a platform for demonstrating political power.
Earlier, Kursiv reported that US President Donald Trump unexpectedly became one of the main heroes of the World Cup, due to FIFA's decision on the suspension of US striker Folarin Balogun.