FIFA controversially lifted star player Folarin Balogun's red card suspension, allowing him to play in the World Cup last-16 match against Belgium. This decision came after United States President Donald Trump directly urged FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to review the case. Balogun, who plays club football for Monaco and has scored three goals in the tournament, received the red card for an awkward step on Bosnia's Tarik Muharemovic, which typically triggers an automatic one-match ban.
FIFA cited Article 27 of its disciplinary committee rules, which permits the judicial body to "fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure," subjecting the sanctioned individual to a probationary period of one to four years. The global football body announced that Balogun's suspension was lifted for a probationary period of one year. If he commits a similar infringement during this time, the suspension would be reinstated along with any new sanctions.
The decision generated widespread criticism, including from Belgium's football association, Europe's top football body (UEFA), a former FIFA boss, and numerous former players. Critics argued that political intervention to overturn a red card suspension set a dangerous precedent and undermined the tournament's integrity. UEFA expressed "disbelief" and stated the decision "crossed a red line." The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) described itself as "astonished" and is investigating potential options, accusing FIFA of violating its own rules, specifically Article 66.4 of its code and Article 10.5 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations, which mandate automatic one-match bans for red cards.
This marks the first instance since the 1962 World Cup that a red card during the tournament has not resulted in an automatic suspension. In 1962, Brazilian star Garrincha's red card was reviewed by a disciplinary panel, which opted for a warning, allowing him to play in the final. However, in the modern era, automatic suspensions have been standard. U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino applauded FIFA's decision, calling the initial red card "completely unfair," while Norway's coach criticized it as a "bad, bad, bad, bad, bad decision that will hurt the World Cup."
