The war between UEFA and FIFA escalated to unprecedented levels in the middle of the 2026 World Cup. It all erupted when FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee decided to suspend the sanction on Folarin Balogun, the United States forward who had been sent off with a straight red card against Bosnia. The player, who was due to serve an automatic one-match suspension, was cleared to play in the round of 16 against Belgium, sparking fury in European football.
UEFA, which counts Belgium among its members, did not stay silent. In an official statement, the entity chaired by Aleksander Čeferin was scathing: ‘The decision taken yesterday to suspend for a probationary period of one year the application of the automatic one-match suspension following the red card shown to player Folarin Balogun crossed a red line.’ The statement, published on official channels, left no doubt about the indignation reigning in European football.
‘Football, like any other sport, is governed by rules that form the basis of fair, honest, and transparent competition. Sometimes, rules are open to interpretation. In this case, they are not. The minimum automatic one-match suspension following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require a decision by a competent body for its application. It is a principle enshrined in the regulations, which admits no exceptions, much less in the middle of a tournament where other players have found themselves in the same situation and have served their suspension as usual,’ the statement added.
UEFA went further and warned of the consequences: ‘When those responsible for enforcing the rules no longer guarantee them, the integrity of the game is compromised and the credibility of the competition is undermined. Likewise, this decision sets a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition.’
The scandal is not minor. Balogun had been sent off by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus after a foul on Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic. According to the specific World Cup regulations, straight red cards carry an automatic one-match suspension. However, FIFA decided to apply Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, which allows deferring the fulfillment of the sanction under a probationary regime. Thus, the American striker will be able to play against Belgium, and only if he commits a similar infraction in the next twelve months will the suspension take effect.
What most irritates UEFA is that the sanction was neither annulled nor revoked, but simply suspended. There was no appeal involved, because the regulations do not provide for one. ‘We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustifiable decision,’ the statement concluded.
Behind all this, the strings of power are being pulled. United States President Donald Trump publicly thanked his friend Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, through his social network Truth. ‘Thank you to FIFA for doing the right thing and correcting a tremendous injustice!’ the president wrote. The shadow of political influence over football is growing denser, and UEFA is not willing to swallow it.
The round of 16 match between the United States and Belgium promises to be a battlefield not only in sports but also institutionally. Meanwhile, FIFA remains silent, but the precedent has already been set: in this World Cup, the rules seem flexible when convenient.
Para mí la UEFA se hace la moralista cuando la FIFA le perdona a Balogun pero después les ponen la alfombra roja a los poderosos. Esto huele a fútbol burgués, todo arreglado para la gilada. ¡Qué asco, viejo! Firmado: El Zurdo.
kjjjj la UEFA llorando como nenas para mi son unos vendidos Balogun es un capo la FIFA bien en perdonarlo estos europeos de mierda siempre quieren joder a Africa yo creo que tienen miedo de que les ganemos vamos Balogun dale con fuerza que los llorones se jodan alto partido te mandaste antes de la roja #BalogunInocente