UEFA says FIFA ‘went too far’ in strong statement criticizing Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension.
UEFA has said that FIFA “crossed a red line” by making the unusual decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s red card before the USA’s World Cup match against Belgium.
The US team has had a great World Cup so far, with some unforgettable moments. Now, they face Belgium early Tuesday morning for a chance to reach the quarter-finals. Initially, Balogun, their star striker who has scored three goals in three games this summer, was going to miss the match because of a suspension.
Balogun got a straight red card in the round of 32 game against Bosnia and Herzegovina for a foul on defender Tarik Muharemovic, which meant a one-game ban. But, surprisingly, after a direct request from The White House to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, FIFA decided to suspend that ban for a whole year.
FIFA said: “In line with Article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code, the match suspension is put on hold for a probation period of one year.”
Many fans and experts have strongly criticized this decision, and now UEFA, which runs football in Europe, has also spoken out. They called the move “incomprehensible and unjustifiable” and said it “crossed a red line.”
UEFA explained that football relies on clear rules for fair play, and suspending an automatic one-match ban after a red card breaks these rules. They stressed that such suspensions are not optional and don’t need approval from any body. Since other players have served such bans during the World Cup, this decision harms the game’s integrity and the competition’s fairness.
They added: “Football is loved worldwide because it is played with the same rules everywhere. The World Cup isn’t just a tournament—it impacts the whole sport.” UEFA expressed shock at the unprecedented decision.
Many experts have questioned FIFA’s choice, especially since Belgium found out less than 48 hours before the match. This change likely means Belgium now has to prepare for a different player strategy.
Belgium’s football association (RBFA) released a statement saying they were “astonished” by FIFA’s call and that they might take action. They pointed out that while Article 27 of FIFA’s code allows suspending sanctions, Article 66.4 says a red card means an automatic one-match ban, as shown by previous cases in this World Cup.
They also reminded that the FIFA World Cup 2026 rules clearly say any red card causes an automatic suspension for the next game, which was confirmed in multiple official documents and meetings. To protect fairness and all teams’ rights, RBFA is now exploring what steps to take.
In short, this decision has stirred up a lot of debate and could affect the fairness of the tournament going forward.