Folarin Balogun of the US reacts after receiving a pink card throughout Spherical of 32 of Fifa World Cup 2026, United States v Bosnia and Herzegovina, in San Francisco Bay Space Stadium, Santa Clara, California, US on July 1, 2026. — ReutersUefa warns of ramifications for sport as a complete.Belgium shocked by ruling on Balogun pink card.Guidelines on this case not open to interpretation: Uefa.
Fifa “crossed a red line” with the controversial resolution to droop US star Folarin Balogun’s one-game ban for a 12 months, European soccer’s governing physique Uefa stated on Monday.
Fifa’s ruling, which got here after the intervention of Donald Trump, permits Balogun to play within the co-hosts’ World Cup final 16 match with Belgium afterward Monday.
“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,” learn Uefa’s strongly worded assertion.
“Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition. Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not.”
Uefa warned of the ramifications for the game as a complete.
“Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because is played everywhere with the same laws,” it stated.
“A tournament is never a pure standalone and, if the tournament in question is the World Cup, it has the power to drive positive or negative consequences on the game as a whole.
“We categorical our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable resolution.”
Balogun, who has scored three goals at the World Cup, had been set to miss the clash in Seattle after receiving a straight red card following a video review for stepping on a Bosnia-Herzegovina defender’s foot in the round-of-32 match the US won 2-0.
Under Fifa rules, a straight red card automatically triggers a one-game ban.
Trump called Fifa chief Gianni Infantino asking him to review Balogun’s punishment, two sources familiar with the matter told AFP.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also publicly called for the card to be rescinded.
The decision to suspend the ban was taken by Fifa’s disciplinary committee.
World football’s governing body said Sunday the ban will now be suspended for a year, in a stunning move for which no specific explanation was offered.
“Thanks to Fifa for doing what was proper, and reversing a terrific injustice!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The Belgians were stupefied by the ruling.
“I did not know that on the Fifa World Cup, the fifth of July is now the first of April, and that it is April Idiot’s Day,” Belgium coach Rudi Garcia informed reporters.
