FIFA on Sunday suspended the automatic one-match red-card ban for United States striker Folarin Balogun, clearing him to play against Belgium in a World Cup match. The decision followed a call between U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The move has ignited widespread anger within the global soccer community, with several prominent organizations and figures criticizing the intervention.
UEFA, the governing body for European soccer, stated that suspending the automatic ban "crossed a red line." The organization emphasized that a minimum one-match suspension for a red card is a non-discretionary rule embedded in regulations, not subject to exceptions, especially in the middle of a tournament. UEFA warned that undermining the certainty of rules jeopardizes the integrity and credibility of the competition, creating a problematic precedent.
The Royal Belgian Football Association noted that while FIFA's Disciplinary Code allows for suspending sanctions, Article 66.4 clearly mandates an automatic suspension for the next match following a red card, a rule consistently applied throughout the tournament.
Bernd Neuendorf, president of the German Football Association (DFB), called for a swift statement from FIFA to address reports of Trump's call preceding the decision. He stressed the need to dispel any impression of political interference to protect the competition's integrity and FIFA's credibility.
European Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micalleff commented that while he personally disagreed with the initial red card decision, sporting matters should be handled by sporting bodies, not politicians. He cautioned that influencing such decisions undermines the autonomy of sport and called for a focus on governance challenges, including the weaponization of sport for political purposes.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia expressed disbelief, likening the situation to an April Fool's joke and asserting that the team was defending football itself. Former FIFA chief Sepp Blatter stated that red cards are overturned by rules and evidence, not political calls, questioning FIFA's direction if such interventions are allowed. Former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp strongly criticized the perceived intervention, stating, "This is our sport, not theirs," and called it "madness" if Trump and Infantino resolved the issue, asserting that individuals with no knowledge of football should not be involved.
England manager Thomas Tuchel found the overturning of the decision strange, especially after VAR and the referee had reviewed the incident, emphasizing the need for consistency in refereeing. Norway coach Stale Solbakken called it a "big mistake by FIFA" that could unfairly cast a shadow over any potential U.S. victory in the match.