UEFA says decision by FIFA to let US forward play at World Cup is 'incomprehensible'
UEFA called the ruling unjustifiable after FIFA put Balogun’s suspension on one-year probation, allowing him to face Belgium.
- On Monday, FIFA permitted United States forward Folarin Balogun to play in the World Cup match against Belgium, deferring his mandatory one-game suspension to a one-year probationary period.
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino intervened to review the red card following pressure from President Donald Trump, choosing to defer rather than enforce the mandatory ban.
- European soccer body UEFA denounced the decision as "incomprehensible and unjustifiable," stating that FIFA "crossed a red line" with its choice not to enforce the mandatory ban.
- The Belgian soccer federation is challenging the ruling before a FIFA-appointed appeals judge in Seattle, with the round of 16 game set to kick off at 5 p.m. local time.
- Norway coach Solbakken criticized the ruling as a "bad" decision that damages the FIFA World Cup, while critics warn the inconsistency undermines the competition's integrity.
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400 Articles
Viewpoint: How Trump’s call to FIFA tested the limits of rules‑based order
President Donald Trump at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February 2025. (Photo by Gage Skidmore) “All I did was ask for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul,” United States President Donald Trump said this week in front of reporters in the Oval Office. He was explaining why he had personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to ask that a red card issued to American forward Folarin Balogun be reconsidered. Balogun …
CNN Can't Find A Fan Happy US Soccer Star Cleared To Play
Monday's CNN This Morning devoted a Group Chat segment to FIFA's decision to suspend the red card issued to U.S. men's national team striker Folarin Balogun. This reversal—following a reported call from President Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino—cleared the top U.S. scorer (with three World Cup goals) to play in Monday's Round of 16 matchup against Belgium in Seattle. Mario Parker of Bloomberg suggested that, thanks to the FIFA decision,…
FIFA defends Balogun ruling despite concerns over World Cup's integrity
FIFA’s decision to lift United States striker Folarin Balogun's red-card ban after an intervention from US President Donald Trump has reignited a global debate over political influence in sport and the independence of football's governing bodies.
The dispute escalated: After serious accusations by the European Football Union UEFA, FIFA is now fighting back! US top striker Folarin Balogun had seen the red card in the World Cup match against Bosnia-Herzegovina after he had accidentally landed on his opponent's ankle and had initially been blocked for a game. FIFA later suspended the lock on Article 27 of its disciplinary framework, which allows the suspension of a disciplinary measure in w…
The California Democrat who says he ‘won’t cheer FIFA’s capitulation to power’
Sam Liccardo said he “groaned excessively” when the U.S. national team’s Folarin Balogun was given a red card. Yet the Silicon Valley representative objected after President Donald Trump pressed FIFA to review the play at issue, before the world soccer organization suspended the penalty and allowed the U.S.’ lead scorer to play in today’s knockout round match against Belgium. “We can’t win this way,” Liccardo, a Democrat, wrote on social media. …
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