New York, July 6: FIFA is facing mounting criticism after overturning the suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun, allowing the tournament’s leading American scorer to feature in Monday’s FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash against Belgium despite being sent off in the previous round.
Balogun was shown a red card during the United States’ victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 and, under long-standing World Cup regulations, was expected to serve an automatic one-match suspension.
However, in a highly unusual move, FIFA announced that the striker’s ban had been suspended under Article 27 of its disciplinary code, making him eligible to return immediately. The governing body did not provide a detailed explanation for the decision, saying only that the provision allowing disciplinary measures to be suspended had been applied.
The ruling has triggered widespread debate because World Cup red cards have traditionally carried mandatory suspensions with no right of appeal. Since the tournament began, only one previous player — Brazil legend Garrincha at the 1962 World Cup — avoided serving a suspension after a dismissal.
The controversy intensified after CBS News reported that United States President Donald Trump had spoken with FIFA president Gianni Infantino regarding Balogun’s suspension. According to the report, Trump raised the issue during a telephone conversation before FIFA’s disciplinary committee reviewed the case.
The report also said White House World Cup task force executive director Andrew Giuliani and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick were in contact with FIFA over the matter. Trump later welcomed the decision on social media, describing it as the correction of “a great injustice.”
FIFA has not indicated whether the reported discussions influenced the disciplinary committee’s ruling.Belgium reacted angrily to the decision, arguing that it contradicts tournament regulations requiring players sent off during the competition to miss their team’s next match.Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia questioned the move, saying it undermined the integrity of the competition and left teams uncertain about how disciplinary rules would be applied.
Former England defender Micah Richards also criticised the decision, describing it as damaging to the credibility of the tournament and calling for greater transparency from FIFA.The governing body has so far declined to explain why Balogun’s case was treated differently from other dismissals at the tournament or why Article 27, which allows disciplinary sanctions to be suspended, was invoked in a World Cup for the first time.The decision has also raised broader concerns over whether it could set a precedent for future appeals involving red-card suspensions, particularly in cases where fouls are considered accidental rather than intentional.
Balogun, who has scored three goals at the tournament, is now expected to lead the United States attack against Belgium, although the circumstances surrounding his availability are likely to remain one of the World Cup’s biggest talking points regardless of the result. (Agencies)
