European football governing body UEFA has strongly criticised FIFA’s decision to suspend the one-match ban handed to United States forward Folarin Balogun, describing the move as one that “crossed a red line.”
Gatekeepers News reports that the decision allows Balogun to feature in the United States’ FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash against Belgium despite receiving a straight red card in his side’s previous match.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, UEFA questioned the basis of FIFA’s ruling.
“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,” UEFA said.
The organisation stressed that football’s credibility depends on the consistent application of its laws.
“Football, like any other sport, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest, and transparent competition. Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not.”
UEFA also warned that the decision could have far-reaching consequences for the game.
“Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because it is played everywhere with the same laws.
“A tournament is never a pure standalone, and, if the tournament in question is the World Cup, it has the power to drive positive or negative consequences on the game as a whole.
“We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustifiable decision.”
Balogun, who has scored three goals at the tournament, was initially suspended after receiving a straight red card—following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review—for stepping on the foot of a Bosnia and Herzegovina defender during the United States’ 2-0 victory in the Round of 32.
Under FIFA regulations, a straight red card automatically carries a one-match suspension.
According to AFP, U.S. President Donald Trump personally contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of Balogun’s punishment. Two sources familiar with the matter said the intervention came before FIFA’s disciplinary committee reviewed the case.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also publicly called for the suspension to be overturned.
On Sunday, FIFA announced that the one-match ban would instead be suspended for a probationary period of one year, although the governing body did not provide a detailed explanation for the decision.
Reacting to the ruling, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice!”
Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia also expressed surprise at the decision.
“I didn’t know that at the FIFA World Cup, the 5th of July is now the 1st of April and that it’s April Fool’s Day,” Garcia told reporters.
