Read 4 minutes6 Jul 2026 11:13 PM IST
FIFA’s red card suspension of USA striker Folarin Balogun has come under the spotlight ahead of the co-hosts’ 2026 World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium. US President Donald Trump later admitted that he had asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to let Balogun play, only the second of 189 red cards in World Cup history with the decision by the world governing body. Brazil great Garrincha received a red card in the semi-final against Chile in the 1962 World Cup and was overturned in Brazil’s final against Czechoslovakia.
Balogun was shown a red card by referee Rafael Clause in the 64th minute of USA’s Round of 32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. FIFA revoked the red card citing Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. Balogan’s teammate and USA defender Chris Richards has revealed how the team first thought the decision was AI and content before realizing the decision was real.
“I don’t know when Balo (Folarin Balogun) found out. If he knew before us, he kept it quiet. I think a lot of us thought it was AI at first, but I think we were really excited. We found out through social media. … I thought it was AI and stuff. A lot of people were posting a lot. So, I’m sure if we’re real or not. There was a speaker behind us, then a person said something, and no one wanted to confirm it, when we Turns out it’s true, Richards told reporters at Women’s Stadium in Seattle.
Balogun, 25, is the leading scorer for the USA at this World Cup and has scored three goals so far in this World Cup. On Monday, the FIAF said in its statement that the decision was in accordance with Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. “In accordance with Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the enforcement of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year. If Folarin Balogun commits another violation of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension will be revoked and additional enforcement will be imposed without prejudice to any new violation,” FIFA said in a statement.
USA striker Christian Pulisic spoke about how the decision boosts Team USA ahead of their match against Belgium. “Obviously, for us, it encourages us. I mean, if you look at the foul, it was just – there was zero intent. I thought there were a lot of bad things that happened in this tournament. Balo (Folarin Balogun) handled it very well, and I think the team handled it well. We didn’t come to you to complain or do anything good like you do. You know, he was very positive with people like that, I think,” Pulisic told reporters in Seattle.
On Monday, UEFA, the European governing body for football, criticized the decision by FIFA. “We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjust decision,” UEFA said. “When the certainty of the rules is no longer guaranteed by its parent, the integrity of the game is threatened and the credibility of the competition is undermined. Similarly, such a decision creates a precedent in an ongoing competition, where similar situations would now require similar treatment, harming the competition.”