European soccer body UEFA today slammed FIFA’s decision to suspend U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s red-card ban in the World Cup, after U.S. President Donald Trump called FIFA to ask it to review the case.
In a strong statement UEFA said that world soccer’s governing body had “crossed a red line” and undermined the integrity of the game.
“We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision,” UEFA said in a statement, according to Reuters.
“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”, UEFA charged.
Balogun, who has scored three goals for the U.S. in the tournament, was sent off after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review for dragging his cleats down the back of defender Tarik Muharemovic’s leg and onto his foot during their win over Bosnia in the round of 32.
Trump had asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review Balogun’s red card, which would have automatically suspended the player from the round of 16 clash with Belgium, Reuters said.
FIFA suspended the implementation of the ban for a probationary period of one year, however, without rescinding the red card.
The unprecedented move has thrust FIFA’s disciplinary process into the spotlight and prompted an angry response from the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA), which said it was “astonished” by FIFA’s decision.
The Athletic reported that the RBFA has written to FIFA to lodge an appeal in the matter, according to Reuters.
The FIFA move ensured that one of the tournament’s biggest talking points will centre not on tactics or team selection, but on the relationship between football’s governing body and political power.
FIFA is allowing Balogun to play without rescinding the red card.
“In line with article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,” FIFA said in a statement.
“If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”
The judicial body has the discretion to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary sanction, Reuters said.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice,” Trump wrote on Truth Social while the White House hailed Balogun’s reinstatement in the squad with a post on X saying: “USA-USA-USA.”
U.S. Soccer accepted the decision. Balogun’s teammates said they found out via social media on their way to training before today’s game in Seattle.
Pochettino welcomed the news at a press conference in Seattle, saying he thought “99.9% of people in football saw it as unfair punishment” and that there was “evidence from the past” that a punishment can be suspended and fulfilled later on.
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