UEFA has hit out at FIFA after the world governing body lifted the automatic one-game ban issued to United States forward Folarin Balogun for a red card, a move that now keeps him eligible for the USMNT’s World Cup Round of 16 meeting with Belgium.
Balogun entered the tournament as the leading scorer for the United States with three goals, but he was sent off with a straight red for a challenge on Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic during the Americans’ 2-0 Round of 32 win.
Despite that dismissal, FIFA said on Sunday that the automatic one-match suspension would be put in abeyance for the next year, using a clause that permits certain punishments to be suspended.
The ruling sparked anger in European football’s governing body.
“We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision,” UEFA said in a statement.
UEFA added: “Yesterday’s 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.”
UEFA argued FIFA’s action risked damaging the tournament’s credibility by creating an exception during the World Cup itself.
“Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition,” the governing body continued.
“Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not. A minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted.
“It is a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension.
“When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined.
“Equally, such decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition.”
Across the Atlantic, United States President Donald Trump welcomed the change, posting on Truth Social that he was grateful to FIFA for reversing what he called a major injustice.
The United States face Belgium in the Round of 16 on Monday, with Balogun available for selection after FIFA’s decision.
