UEFA has issued a scathing statement condemning FIFA’s decision to suspend United States striker Folarin Balogun’s one match ban, describing the ruling as a serious breach of football’s basic principles.
The intervention followed reports that US President Donald Trump personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of Balogun’s suspension, clearing the striker to face Belgium in the last 16.
“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 in its statement.
ALSO: FIFA under fire from Norway, Belgium over Balogun red card U-turn
The European governing body argued the rule in question left no room for interpretation. “A minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted,” the statement continued, adding that the principle “cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension.”
UEFA statement on the Balogun case: ⬇️https://t.co/9LQDx8waKe
— UEFA (@UEFA) July 6, 2026
UEFA warned the decision undermines trust in the sport more broadly. “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,” it said, adding that the ruling “creates a precedent” that will demand equal treatment in similar cases for the rest of the tournament.
WATCH: The Soccer Show – France set the Standard, Haaland humbles Brazil
The statement closed with a direct rebuke of FIFA’s handling of the matter.
“We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision,” UEFA said.
Balogun, who has scored three goals at this World Cup, was originally sent off for a challenge on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic during the last 32.
Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images
