Major football stakeholders have criticised FIFA after the governing body overturned the red card shown to USA striker Folarin Balogun, clearing him to feature in the United States’ FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash against Belgium.
Balogun was sent off during the United States’ 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 after an incident that initially earned him a suspension for the next match. Despite playing with ten men, the Americans secured qualification to the knockout stage.
However, FIFA later rescinded the dismissal following a review, making the former Arsenal forward eligible for Tuesday’s high stakes encounter with Belgium.
The decision has generated widespread debate, particularly after United States President Donald Trump publicly acknowledged that he had contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of the incident.
Balogun has been one of the standout performers for the USMNT at the tournament, scoring four goals on home soil, and his availability is viewed as a major boost for the hosts’ hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.
UEFA Questions FIFA Decision
The circumstances surrounding the reversal have attracted sharp criticism across the football community, with UEFA, Europe’s football governing body, reportedly describing the development as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable” and raising concerns about the integrity and independence of disciplinary decisions at major international tournaments.
Critics argue that although disciplinary panels have the authority to overturn wrongful dismissals, the perception that political influence may have played a role risks undermining confidence in FIFA’s judicial processes.
Trump, however, insisted that he merely sought a fair review rather than attempting to dictate the outcome. “Yes, I asked for a review by FIFA. I spoke to a man who is highly respected… I didn’t tell them what to do.”
The American President also claimed he believed Balogun had been treated unfairly and argued that suspending him for a subsequent match would have been excessive punishment.
Trump Defends His Intervention
Speaking ahead of the United States’ meeting with Belgium, Trump maintained that the striker had committed no offence worthy of dismissal. “He didn’t do anything wrong,” the US President said. “He’s our best player, or one of our best players… when they take your best player and say you can’t play, that is very unfair.”
Trump explained that he initially did not realise a red card would automatically rule Balogun out of the following match. Once informed, he said he felt compelled to ask FIFA to review the incident because the punishment extended beyond the game in which the alleged offence occurred.
He further argued that the challenge involved two players colliding rather than an act of violent conduct, saying it should never have warranted a straight red card.
‘The Right Decision’ According to Trump
The President also rejected suggestions that he had pressured FIFA into changing the verdict, insisting the final decision rested with the disciplinary committee rather than Infantino himself.
“I thought it was two great athletes who crashed into each other and got entangled. That was not a guy punching somebody in the face… They made the right decision because it wasn’t a foul.”
Donald Trump, President of the United States
Trump added that major tournaments should showcase their biggest stars whenever possible, comparing Balogun’s importance to the absence of global icons.
He argued that football supporters would not want to see players such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Harry Kane miss decisive knockout matches through what he considered an incorrect officiating decision. “We’ve got to have our best players and Belgium have to have their best players too,” Trump said, adding that only then could the outcome of the contest be considered fair.
The controversy has nevertheless shifted attention away from the football itself and onto FIFA’s disciplinary procedures, with many observers questioning whether outside influence, or even the appearance of it, should ever intersect with decisions that could determine the outcome of the world’s biggest football tournament.
All eyes will now be on Balogun as the United States attempt to justify FIFA’s faith in overturning his suspension against a formidable Belgian side.
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