UEFA has strongly criticised FIFA following the world governing body’s decision to suspend the automatic one-match ban handed to United States striker Folarin Balogun after his red card at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Balogun was dismissed during the United States’ Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina after a VAR review found he had raked his studs down the back of defender Tarik Muharemović’s leg. The red card carried an automatic one-match suspension, ruling him out of the Americans’ Round of 16 clash against Belgium.
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However, FIFA later suspended the implementation of the ban for a one-year probationary period while allowing the red card itself to stand, clearing Balogun to feature in the knockout fixture.
The decision came after Donald Trump reportedly contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino requesting a review of the incident.
UEFA condemned the move in a strongly worded statement, accusing FIFA of undermining the credibility of the competition.
“We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision,” UEFA said. “When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined.”
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The ruling has also sparked outrage from the Royal Belgian Football Association, which described the decision as astonishing. Reports indicate the Belgian federation has formally appealed to FIFA over the matter.
The controversy has placed FIFA’s disciplinary procedures under intense scrutiny, with questions being raised over consistency and the independence of decisions made during the World Cup.
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