FIFA's decision to suspend the ejection penalty of the U.S. national soccer team's starting striker Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco) has sparked a fairness controversy.
On the 5th (local time), FIFA notified the U.S. Soccer Federation that it would defer for one year the enforcement of the one-match suspension imposed on Balogun, who received a red card in the round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2026 North and Central American World Cup. If Balogun does not commit a foul of the same nature and severity during the one-year deferral period, the penalty will be officially withdrawn. U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on the social networking service Truth Social that day, "Thanks to FIFA for doing the right thing and correcting a great injustice."
Balogun scored the opening goal in the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on the 2nd of this month, leading the U.S. to a 2-0 victory. However, during the match, he stepped on an opposing player's ankle and was immediately ejected. Under FIFA World Cup rules, a red card automatically results in a one-match suspension for the next game. The U.S. Soccer Federation, too, had announced as recently as two days earlier that Balogun would miss the round of 16 match against Belgium. But with FIFA deferring the enforcement of the suspension that day, his participation in the Belgium match became possible.
FIFA cited Article 27 of its disciplinary regulations. Under this provision, the enforcement of a penalty can be deferred for a certain period. However, it is extremely rare for this provision to be applied in a World Cup tournament. Due to the nature of a tournament, deferring a penalty effectively amounts to an exemption. The Associated Press also noted that "this is the first time in 64 years, since the 1962 Chile World Cup, that a player who received a red card in the World Cup finals has escaped a suspension."
Foreign media outlets uniformly reported that President Trump asked FIFA President Infantino to reconsider the penalty. Reuters, citing a source, reported that "President Trump called FIFA President Infantino to ask him to reconsider Balogun's red card penalty," and The New York Times and the Associated Press also reported that President Trump spoke directly with President Infantino on the very day Balogun was ejected. President Infantino has visited the White House several times since President Trump took office last year, ostensibly to discuss World Cup preparations, and has maintained a friendly relationship, including awarding President Trump the "FIFA Peace Prize."
The Belgian Football Association immediately protested. The association stated that the decision "directly contradicts the tournament rules" and said, "We will review all possible responses." Belgium coach Rudi Garcia also took a jab, saying, "I didn't know that July 5 is Europe's April 1 (April Fools' Day) at FIFA," and raised his voice, adding, "We are not trying to defend Belgium or the association, but the ethics and fairness of football."
