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UEFA Condemns FIFA Over Balogun Red Card Reprieve

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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Sir Dude Gold Member

Sir Dude

Advanced Member

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

Nemises Gold Member

Nemises

Advanced Member

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

Jim Waldron Gold Member

Jim Waldron

Advanced Member

Another "Hand of God" for FIFA!

RayC Ruby Member

RayC

Advanced Member

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

JBChiangRai Diamond Member

JBChiangRai

Advanced Member

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

greeneking Silver Member

greeneking

Advanced Member
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.

bannork Star Member

bannork

Newsman
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

pomchop Ruby Member

pomchop

Advanced Member

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.

kwilco Ruby Member

kwilco

Advanced Member

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

kwilco Ruby Member

kwilco

Advanced Member
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.

Jingthing Legendary Member

Jingthing

Advanced Member

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

Trump turns everything he touches into sheit.

Making Americans embarassed again.

Yagoda Star Member

Yagoda

Advanced Member

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

JonnyF Star Member

JonnyF

Advanced Member

Terrible decision

Everyone knows fifa is corrupt.

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

Come on Belgium.

Cory1848 Silver Member

Cory1848

Advanced Member
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?

wmorris61 Explorer Member

wmorris61

Member

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.

wmorris61 Explorer Member

wmorris61

Member

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

Coxy Explorer Member

Coxy

Member

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

JonnyF Star Member

JonnyF

Advanced Member
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

Andrew Dwyer Ruby Member

Andrew Dwyer

Advanced Member

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

roo860 Star Member

roo860

Advanced Member

Absolutely thrashed them 👏👏👏👏

Watawattana Gold Member

Watawattana

Advanced Member

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

Old Croc Star Member

Old Croc

Advanced Member

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

Andrew Dwyer Ruby Member

Andrew Dwyer

Advanced Member

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

Thingamabob Diamond Member

Thingamabob

Restricted-N

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.

James105 Platinum Member

James105

Advanced Member

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.

Hardcastle P Advanced Member

Hardcastle P

Member
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

JonnyF Star Member

JonnyF

Advanced Member

4-1.

Hammered by a nation of under 12 million people.

Hopefully the rest of the tournament will now be fair.

Karma.

Cory1848 Silver Member

Cory1848

Advanced Member
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.

stevenl Star Member

stevenl

Advanced Member
2 hours ago, Cory1848 said:

Longer term, I know nothing about FIFA; can its leadership be cleared out and replaced?

It's an almost certainty infantino will be re-elected at the next election.

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