UEFA has strongly criticised FIFA's decision to lift the automatic suspension handed to United States striker Folarin Balogun, accusing world football's governing body of undermining the integrity of the game ahead of the USA's World Cup last-16 match against Belgium.

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In a sharply worded statement, UEFA described the ruling as "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable", arguing that FIFA had crossed "a red line" by suspending the enforcement of Balogun's mandatory one-match ban.

UEFA says FIFA undermined tournament integrity

The decision means Balogun is eligible to face Belgium on Monday despite being sent off during the United States' 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has appealed against Balogun's availability, although it remains unclear when FIFA's appeals process will conclude or whether the governing body will publicly explain its decision.

Belgium launches appeal

UEFA said the automatic one-match suspension for a red card is a fundamental rule that does not require interpretation or approval by a disciplinary body.

It argued that allowing an exception during an ongoing tournament risks damaging confidence in the competition, particularly after other players have already served suspensions under the same regulations.

The RBFA also expressed its surprise at the ruling, with Belgium manager Rudi Garcia comparing the decision to an April Fools' Day joke.

Questions over FIFA's decision

According to sources cited by The Guardian, U.S. President Donald Trump personally lobbied FIFA to overturn Balogun's suspension, making three phone calls to the organisation after the striker's dismissal.

Belgium's federation said it had not received a detailed explanation for FIFA's decision before submitting its appeal. The governing body has so far referred only to Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which allows its judicial committee to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary sanction.

Under FIFA regulations, the appeal will be heard by a member of its appeals committee who is not affiliated with either UEFA or Concacaf to avoid any conflict of interest.

The RBFA has also indicated it is considering legal action, alleging FIFA breached its own statutes.

USA welcomes ruling

United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino welcomed FIFA's decision and maintained that Balogun's dismissal by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus for a challenge on Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic had been excessively harsh.

Pochettino said the United States had already paid a significant price by playing with 10 men for around 30 minutes against Bosnia and Herzegovina, adding that he believed almost everyone considered the red card to have been unfair.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 6 July 2026

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FIFA is one of the most corrupt organisations on the planet.

So red cards are now just a ‘strong suggestion’ if you’ve got the right people on speed dial? 😂📞

Another "Hand of God" for FIFA!

Imo it will be impossible to extract Infantino from Trump's arse.

Best course of action is for remaining teams to pull out until the situation is corrected

5 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

Best course of action is for remaining teams to pull out until the situation is corrected

If there was some integrity in football at this level.

I don't think there is.

Stunned silence and awkward laughs in Oval Office at MAGA senator's FIFA admission

Ted Cruz (R-TX) stunned the Oval Office Monday into a brief moment of silence after openly admitting to President Donald Trump’s meddling in a FIFA World Cup game – an acknowledgement that later elicited awkward laughter from those in the room.

Cruz, while attending an Oval Office ceremony for the launch of “Trump Accounts,” not only acknowledged Trump’s alleged involvement in FIFA’s decision, but thanked the president directly for it.

“On behalf of all Americans, thank you for getting rid of that ridiculous red card,” Cruz said.

The seven people surrounding Cruz let out a hushed round of nervous laughter before falling silent. Trump grinned as those in the room exchanged glances.

After several seconds, Trump, still grinning, proclaimed Cruz’s remark to be “interesting,” eliciting another round of awkward laughter.

“It was spectacular!” Cruz said. “There was a reason the FIFA trophy stood here for as long as it did.”

Stunned silence and awkward laughs in Oval Office at MAGA senator's FIFA admission

whats next trump gonna lay a big bet on superbowl and then call roger goodell to overturn any calls he doesn't like?

i know very little re soccer but i do know that it is not the potus duty to pressure a call to be changed like that....bad calls happen in almost every game played and the calls are made by humans....maybe we can just turn all ref duty over to A.I and keep humans out of it....any fan of most any sport has complained about what they see as a bad call but they know that bad calls have always been a part of sports and not yet another trump pardon. Maybe one of trump zillionaire buds had big money bet on next game and donated a few million crypto crap to have don to make the call.

Trump has destroyed the credibility of the World Cup.

The teams should consider leaving the tournament or refusing to play in the USA.

No matter how the US team now fares, they cannot claim a right result if they play Folarin Balogun

8 hours ago, RayC said:

Imo it will be impossible to extract Infantino from Trump's arse.

He's certainly permanently damaged FIFA for ever.

If the USA team beats Belgium it will be a tainted victory.

Trump turns everything he touches into sheit.

Making Americans embarassed again.

so its ok for ronaldo but not an american. got it. the belgians are scared

Asking for a friend - would Balogun be eligible for US citizenship, and playing for the USA, if the planned birthright citizenship law had become law?

Trump intervened for soccer star Balogun, who is a birthright citizen

Terrible decision

Everyone knows fifa is corrupt.

I hope Belgium knock them out. 3-1 up as we speak.

Come on Belgium.

5 hours ago, kwilco said:

Trump has destroyed the credibility of the World Cup.

The teams should consider leaving the tournament or refusing to play in the USA.

No matter how the US team now fares, they cannot claim a right result if they play Folarin Balogun

Absolutely. Belgium is currently beating them 3–1 in the second period; hopefully that score holds up, and that will put an end to the immediate debacle. Longer term, I know nothing about FIFA; can its leadership be cleared out and replaced?

This is what he does. He cheats his way through life. He cheats in business, he cheats in golf, he cheats in his stock market dealings, he cheats on all his wives and he cheats on the American people. He's a low life who can't bear the thought of losing at any level and yet he remains a role model for a not insignificant number of Americans. Once again Ted Cruz has shown his true colors as a spineless jellyfish. Another true leader and role model. America is truly blessed with true leaders.

I do believe this political interference is worthy of another FIFA peace prize.

An absolute disgrace, total corruption throughout FIFA. They have opened the floodgates for other players who have been sent off to demand an appeal

World Cup With 48 countries taking part in several different countries is all about money, nothing to do with spreading the world about football. Maybe should ask for audited accounts of where all th e sponsors money goes

5 hours ago, kwilco said:

Trump has destroyed the credibility of the World Cup.

The teams should consider leaving the tournament or refusing to play in the USA.

No matter how the US team now fares, they cannot claim a right result if they play Folarin Balogun

Nothing to do with the request. People request cards are rescinded etc. all the time. England are doing it with Quansah's against Mexico. I expect the request to be rejected.

FIFA are at fault here for agreeing. They are a joke. Have been for decades.

Pochettino shouldn't have played him as well. On principle.

Belgium still leading. 😀 som nam naa

4:1 to Belgium now, watch the highlight of that fourth goal, humiliation complete for the us.

Absolutely thrashed them 👏👏👏👏

4-1. Well done Belgium. Fifa's corrupt cheating didn't work.

The MAGA Trump hypocrisy is on full display. No birthright citizenship unless you play for us in the world series (sorry, Cup).

Waiting for the meme of the US coach kicking his players water over and the goalkeeper kicking the ground , hilarious moments.

As spectators/ viewers even Presidents are entitled to an opinion regarding any aspect of a game of football, or any other sport for that matter. FIFA's involvement the this matter is, however, entirely wrong. They should have left it well alone.

No matter how much FIFA puts their thumb on the scales (making the USA one of the top 8 seeds in contrast to their ranking, overturning red card suspension), they were always going to come up against one of the smaller European teams that would humble them in the end. It was never about Belgium being scared to play any USA players (Balogun is hardly Messi or Ronaldo), it was always about sporting integrity.

Shame, normally most are a little sad when the hosts are knocked out, but I think the footballing world will be happy with the result on this occasion. I was also getting irritated with the US team constantly being referred to as the "US Mens national team" in commentary for some reason. No other nation needs constant reminders about which gender of their team is playing in the mens world cup.

1 hour ago, Cory1848 said:

Absolutely. Belgium is currently beating them 3–1 in the second period; hopefully that score holds up, and that will put an end to the immediate debacle. Longer term, I know nothing about FIFA; can its leadership be cleared out and replaced?

Cheats never beat although to be fair on the American team its not them is it its that lowlife Trump that's created the problem.for them

Latest just heard the final results

USA are out of the world Cup.

I wonder if Trump will.try and intervene calling it fixed like he did the presidential elections

4-1.

Hammered by a nation of under 12 million people.

Hopefully the rest of the tournament will now be fair.

Karma.

33 minutes ago, Hardcastle P said:

Cheats never beat although to be fair on the American team its not them is it its that lowlife Trump that's created the problem.for them

Latest just heard the final results

USA are out of the world Cup.

I wonder if Trump will.try and intervene calling it fixed like he did the presidential elections

34 minutes ago, Hardcastle P said:

Now that he’s waded in, I wouldn’t be surprised if Trump said the game was “rigged” by lunatic left-wing yadda yadda yadda. Whatever; I don’t think there’s anything more he can actually do. Maybe sever relations with Belgium.