The football world is up in arms after the White House put in a call to FIFA asking for a review into US star Folarin Balogun’s red card — with his suspension from the Round of 16 clash with Belgium overturned as a result.
Donald Trump celebrated the decision afterwards, with the revelation that the US president directly called FIFA counterpart Gianni Infantino increasing the spotlight on the relationship between the pair.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump said.
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Players issued red cards at the World Cup are automatically banned for one game but Balogun’s sanction has now been put on hold.
FIFA cited “article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code” — prompting “astonished” Belgium Football Association officials to hit back and argue the decision was in “direct contradiction” of World Cup regulations.
“In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options,” Belgium’s governing body said.
Any challenge would need to come quickly with the US-Belgium clash kicking off on Monday local time (Tuesday AEST).
Not since 1962 has a player sent off at the World Cup played in his nation’s next match at the tournament. Brazilian icon Garrincha was given a red card in the semi-final but played in the final to win the title for the second time in a row.
Balogun was sent off following a VAR review in the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 last week.
Folarin Balogun scored the opener against Bosnia before being sent off. Credit: AAP The referee issued the red card after replays showed Balogun, who scored the opening goal of the game to bring his tally for the tournament to three, had stepped on the back leg of Tarik Muharemovic.
Balogun’s one-match ban is now on probation for a year. US players said they first read about the decision from social media before officials confirmed the news was legitimate.
“We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete (against Belgium),” US Soccer said.
“Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans.”
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia mocked the decision as an April Fool’s joke.
“I didn’t know that in the offices of FIFA the 5th of July was the 1st of April in Europe,” Garcia said.
“The Belgian federation does not defend itself, it does not protect the national team, She defends football in general, she defends her integrity, her ethics. I think it’s the first time in the history of the World Cup that there is this kind of decision.”
‘Embarrassment for football’ French legend Thierry Henry said he “laughed” when he heard the news, adding that while Balogun should never have received a red card the late decision by FIFA “does change everything” for Belgium.
“I will not say it has never happened before because it must have happened in the history of the World Cup,” he said, referencing Garrincha in 1962, on Fox in the US.
“Whatever the rule was or whatever the rule is, I was like OK it is the right call but why so late, why didn’t it happen straight away?”
Beyond Garrincha, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo also had a three-match ban reduced before the World Cup — under article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code — to ensure he would be available for his nation’s campaign in North America.
Australian football identity Craig Foster said: “Under Infantino, there’s no longer such thing as an ‘independent FIFA Committee’.”
“There is only the ‘FIFA Committees for the protection of image, promotion of autocrats and any and all regimes with money to fill FIFA pockets, and the capitulation to power irrespective of the damage to what’s left of its Statutes or the integrity of the game’,” the former Socceroos player said.
“Trump proudly proclaims how he influenced the unprecedented decision during a World Cup. What an embarrassment for football.”
Norway coach Stale Solbakken called out the “big mistake by FIFA” after his team’s Round of 16 win over Brazil.
The former Norwegian international said overturning the ban opened up a huge can of worms for the game, adding he will “feel sorry” for the US team if they defeat Belgium.
“I think what’s really bad about that situation can be that it will be (hanging) over the United States now,” Solbakken said.
“Because if they beat Belgium, it will have that extra thing about it. Belgium would be furious.
“What about the next red card? What happens then? Is there going to be a committee somewhere that is going to take that card away?
“Bad, bad, bad, bad, bad decision that will hurt the World Cup. I feel also sorry for the United States, because if they win, that will always hang in the balance. Not good for the sport, bad decision by FIFA.”
Prominent English journalist Henry Winter said the Balogun decision “is one of the biggest own goals by organisers I’ve seen”.
“What is sad and incredibly damaging for FIFA and the sport is it undermines the referee, the VAR, the whole refereeing structure and system and also it’s definitely, to an extent, their credibility — it undermines the World Cup,” he said.
“And it obviously undermines FIFA. Some might say that’s not difficult but FIFA were probably having a half-decent tournament, because it has been a very good tournament.
“The long-term ramifications, as well as the short-term anger, will be intense.”
Trump, Infantino and the World Cup FIFA named the US, Mexico and Canada joint hosts of the 2026 World Cup in 2018 during Trump’s first term as president.
His return to the Oval Office coincided with the tournament, and Infantino has only grown closer to the US president since.
Infantino presented Trump with the ‘FIFA Peace Prize’ at the World Cup draw in December last year after he had been overlooked by the Nobel Foundation two months earlier.
Trump has yet to attend a game during the World Cup but he is set to present the trophy to the winning team after the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
“We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course,” Infantino told Fox in the US.
Asked if he and Trump would make the presentation together, Infantino added: “Of course, we are together all the time.”
US President Donald Trump, pictured here with FIFA counterpart Gianni Infantino, thanked the governing body after the Balogun suspension was lifted. Credit: AAP Trump is regularly booed at sporting events and was widely mocked when he remained on the podium after presenting the Club World Cup trophy to Chelsea in a final also held at MetLife Stadium.
His presence at the final continues a trend in recent years.
The Emir of Qatar and Infantino together presented Lionel Messi with the trophy following Argentina’s victory in 2022.
In 2018, Russian president Vladimir Putin was on stage under an umbrella when France captain Hugo Lloris received the trophy from Infantino in teeming rain.