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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