Europe’s football’s governing body, UEFA, has registered its displeasure over the decision by world football governing body, FIFA, to suspend the red card picked up by American forward Folarin Balogun that makes him eligible to compete in the USA’s upcoming game at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Balogun received a red card over a tackle in America’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 stage.
The AS Monaco striker scored in the win over Bosnia but his dismissal ruled him out of contention to play in America’s round of 16 tie against Belgium on Monday, July 6 prior to FIFA’s decision to overturn the one match ban into a suspended ban making him eligible to play on Monday.
According to the New York Times, US President Donald Trump directly contacted FIFA to review Balogun’s case. In the wake of the decision change, he stated on Truth Social, “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!”
UEFA reacted by stating that, the
“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.”
“Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because it is played everywhere with the same laws. We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.”
