FIFA overturns suspension of US striker Folarin Balogun allowing him to play Belgium
FIFA overturns automatic suspension of US striker Folarin Balogun after Trump intervention, clearing him to face Belgium in World Cup last-16 clash
FIFA suspended the automatic one-match suspension of United States striker Folarin Balogun on Sunday evening, allowing the 25-year-old to play for his national team against Belgium in Monday’s World Cup last-16 tie in Arlington, Texas. The decision followed a direct appeal by US President Donald Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, according to multiple sources briefed on the call and reported by the Associated Press and Axios .
Balogun was sent off in the 88th minute of the USA’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday after a VAR review upheld a straight red card for a high boot into the ankle of Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic. Under article 10.5 of the FIFA World Cup Regulations, a direct red card triggers an automatic suspension for the next match. FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, however, invoked article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code to suspend the sanction “for a probationary period of one year,” meaning Balogun may play against Belgium and will only serve the ban if he commits a similar offence within 12 months .
The White House confirmed the intervention. “USA! USA! USA!” posted the official X account of the US government, while Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!”
Belgium’s football federation reacted with “astonishment.” In an official statement, the Royal Belgian Football Association (KBVB) said the decision contradicted article 66.4 of the FIFA World Cup Regulations, which states that a red card “automatically entails a suspension for the next match.” The KBVB noted that FIFA itself had reminded all teams of this rule in a circular dated 12 May 2026 and reiterated it in pre-tournament workshops. “To protect the legitimate rights of all participating nations and defend the fundamental principles of fair play, the KBVB is conducting an exhaustive analysis of this matter,” the statement said .
FIFA’s statement did not mention Trump or the White House, but cited article 27 as the legal basis for the suspension of the suspension. “The judicial body has the discretion to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary sanction,” the governing body said .
US coach Mauricio Pochettino welcomed the decision. “Everyone who loves the sport stands behind this decision,” he told reporters. “We have already been punished with the red card against Bosnia. I think 99.99 per cent of people would not have given a red card.” Balogun has scored three goals at the tournament, making him the USA’s top scorer .
Belgian head coach Rudi Garcia said he was “surprised” by the reversal. “I did not know that 5 July was April Fools’ Day at FIFA,” he told Belgian media. “We must limit ourselves to the official statement from the Belgian FA, which is perfectly correct. This has never happened in the history of the FIFA World Cup.”
The episode has thrust FIFA’s disciplinary process into the global spotlight and raised questions about the influence of political power on football’s governing body. BBC Sport pundits Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart and Micah Richards questioned the decision, while German legend Jürgen Klopp was among those expressing “great incomprehension” at the reversal .
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Trump called FIFAs Infantino over Balogun suspension President Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino about U.S. striker Folarin Baloguns suspension before the governing body lifted it, a U.S. official tells Axios.Why it matters: Direct presidential intervention in a FIFA disciplinary matter would be highly unusual, and the reversal allows Balogun to play in the knockout stage.The big picture: The presidents involvement illustrates how closely Trump is following the U.S. mens national teams World Cup campaign and highlights potential political influence on international sports governance.Driving the news: The U.S. official said Trump spoke with Infantino because the president wanted to better understand the reason why a red card was given to Balogun and why the one-game suspension was imposed.The U.S. government provided additional evidence that was used in the appeal process, which the official noted is run by an independent board.The official added that ultimately the correct and proper outcome was achieved.Trump in a Truth Social post earlier Sunday thanked FIFA for "doing what was right," saying the decision reversed "a great injustice!"The New York Times first reported news of Trumps intervention.Flashback: Balogun was red-carded in Team USAs 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina.Whats next: The U.S. plays Belgium in the round of 16 clash on Monday.Go deeper: Belgium "astonished" by FIFAs Balogun red card reversal
axios · about 4 hours ago
Trump intervention sparks World Cup storm as FIFA clears Balogun to face Belgium The United States World Cup campaign took an extraordinary turn on Sunday when FIFA made the unprecedented decision to suspend Folarin Baloguns automatic red-card ban, clearing the striker…
japantoday · about 4 hours ago
FIFA lifts US striker Baloguns red card World Cup suspension after Trump calls Infantino In its statement, FIFA pointed to "article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code" which allows the suspension to be "suspended for a probationary period of one year."
euronews · about 4 hours ago
FIFA suspends Folarin Baloguns World Cup ban after Donald Trump intervention, Belgians furious The United States World Cup campaign took an extraordinary turn on Sunday when FIFA made the unprecedented decision to suspend Folarin Baloguns automatic red-card ban, clearing the striker to face Belgium in Mondays last-16 clash after U.S. President Donald Trump personally urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the case. The move thrust FIFAs disciplinary […]
cyprus mail · about 4 hours ago
The U.S. World Cup campaign took a surprising turn when FIFA suspended Folarin Baloguns red-card ban, allowing him to play against Belgium in Mondays last-16 match. The decision followed a personal request from President Donald Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Rohith Nair has more.
bluesky_Reuters · about 4 hours ago
Belgium astonished at FIFAs U-turn on Balogun red card for USA match Belgiums football federation is investigating all potential options to safeguard football after FIFAs U-turn.
aljazeera · about 4 hours ago
Sportsmanship in question after decision to suspend Balogun red card BBC Sport World Cup pundits Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, and Micah Richards react to the decision to suspend the red card shown to the USAs Florian Balogun during their round of 32 tie with Bosnia-Herzegovina.
bbc sport · about 4 hours ago
„Das stellt alles infrage – Klopp, Kemme und Ittrich rechnen mit der Fifa ab Die Fifa hat die Rotsperre für US-Spieler Balogun überraschend aufgehoben. Donald Trump und Fifa-Präsident Gianni Infantino sollen ihre Finger im Spiel haben. Bei Jürgen Klopp, Tabea Kemme und Patrick Ittrich sorgt das für großes Unverständnis.
welt.de · about 4 hours ago
Liveblog Fußball-WM 2026: „Schämt euch!: Belgiens Politik äußert heftige Kritik an FIFA-Entscheidung Liveblog zur FIFA Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft 2026 vom 11.06. bis 19.07.2026 in den USA, Kanada und Mexiko | FAZ
faz · about 4 hours ago
Donald Trump mulțumește FIFA pentru o decizie ironizată de belgieni. „E 1 aprilie? Federația Internațională de Fotbal Asociație (FIFA) a decis să anuleze suspendarea pentru un meci a lui Folarin Balogun. Atacantul american va putea juca în meciul cu Belgia din optimile de finală ale Campionatului Mondial de fotbal.
adevarul · about 4 hours ago
Red card system in disarray over Trump, Fifa and Balogun decision The decision to effectively overturn the red card shown to United States forward Folarin Balogun leaves many unanswered questions.
bbc sport · about 4 hours ago
Folarin Baloguns ban suspended after Donald Trump calls Gianni Infantino
bluesky_The Times · about 5 hours ago
Football World Cup 2026: Donald Trump apparently called Gianni Infantino about the red card ban #DE #Deutsch #Deutschsprechenden #Europe
mastodon bot · about 5 hours ago
SKANDAAL! ⟩ FIFA andis järele Donald Trumpi survele ja tühistas USA ründaja punase kaardi Igasuguse spordivõistluse vundamendiks on reeglid, mille järgi neid peetakse, koos põhimõttega, et keset võistlusi reegleid ei muudeta. Rahvusvaheline jalgpalliliit FIFA leidis, et kui USA president nõuab, siis võib muuta küll.
postimees · about 5 hours ago
Anruf beim Fifa-Boss, Rot-Sperre aufgehoben – Trump mischt sich offenbar in die WM ein „The Athletic, der Nachrichtensender CNN und die Nachrichtenagentur AP berichten, dass Trump persönlich bei der Fifa angerufen habe, um Verbandsboss Gianni Infantino (56) zu bitten, die Rote Karte gegen Balogun zu überprüfen. WELT-Reporter Christian Beilfuß berichtet aus New York.
welt.de · about 5 hours ago
Balogun réintégré après lintervention de Trump auprès dInfantino, la controverse la plus retentissante de la Coupe du monde 2026 La FIFA est revenue, dimanche, sur la suspension de lattaquant américain Folarin Balogun après son carton rouge mercredi lors du seizième de finale contre la Bosnie-Herzégovine, annonçant quil serait autorisé à jouer lundi contre la Belgique. La fédération belge, qui sest dite stupéfaite par la décision, étudie tous les recours possibles.
courrier international · about 5 hours ago
NEW - Howard Lutnick, the U.S. Commerce Secretary, worked back channels with FIFA in an effort to get U.S. striker Folarin Baloguns red-card ban overturned. Read here: @disclosetv
telegram_Disclose.tv · about 5 hours ago
The World Cup was plunged into uproar after FIFA suspended a red card given to United States star Folarin Balogun ahead of the host nations clash with Belgium, in a bombshell move welcomed by President Donald Trump but slammed as "astonishing" by Belgian officials. buff.ly/r0642I5
bluesky_AFP English · about 6 hours ago
Times: Trump maga hívta fel a FIFA elnökét, hogy közbenjárjon az amerikai játékos eltiltásának elengedése ügyében Balogun büntetésének felfüggesztése annyira rendkívüli, hogy 1962-ben történt utoljára olyan, hogy a FIFA engedélyezte egy játékosnak, hogy olyan mérkőzésen játsszon, ahol eltiltásban részesült volna.
hvg.hu · about 7 hours ago
Shame on you: Belgium accuses FIFA of caving to Trump ahead of World Cup clash Politicians across the political spectrum blasted the decision to clear American star Folarin Balogun to play Monday.
politico.eu · about 7 hours ago
FIFA lifts Baloguns World Cup suspension after Trump calls Infantino US President Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked him to review the World Cup suspension of US striker Folarin Balogun, a source familiar with the matter said on Sunday. FIFA later lifted Baloguns one-match ban, clearing him to face Belgium in the last 16 after his red card against Bosnia.
france24 · about 8 hours ago
Trump thanks Fifa after USA striker Baloguns ban suspended Folarin Balogun is available to play for the United States in their World Cup last-16 tie against Belgium after his one-game ban is suspended by Fifa.
bbc sport · about 9 hours ago
Coupe du Monde 2026 : la Fifa annule le carton rouge de lattaquant américain Balogun, Trump crie «merci» La star aurait dû être suspendue pour le 8e de finale des Etats-Unis contre la Belgique, mais la fédération est revenue sur cette décision, pour le plus grand bonheur de la Maison Blanche.
liberation · about 9 hours ago
Geschorste VS-spits mag toch WK-wedstrijd spelen na belletje Trump met FIFA-baas De Amerikaanse spits Folarin Balogun mag ondanks zijn rode kaart toch spelen in de WK-wedstrijd tegen België. De FIFA heeft zijn schorsing omgezet in een voorwaardelijke straf. Volgens de New York Times zou daar een telefoontje van president Trump met FIFA-voorzitter Gianni Infantino aan vooraf zijn gegaan.
rtl nieuws · about 9 hours ago
Folarin Balogun: Ein Geschenk für den Präsidenten Die Fifa hebt die Rotsperre des US-Stürmers Folarin Balogun auf, nachdem Donald Trump darum bittet. Es ist ein Verrat am Sport.
die zeit · about 9 hours ago
Folarin Balogun eligible to play for US v Belgium as Fifa rescinds suspension for red card
bluesky_The Guardian · about 10 hours ago
Balogun decision leaves red card system in disarray The decision to effectively overturn the red card shown to United States forward Florian Baloguns leaves many unanswered questions.
bbc sport · about 10 hours ago
Trump vroeg FIFA om rode kaart Balogun te herbekijken• Bondscoach Garcia haalt uit naar FIFA: Ik wist niet dat 5 juli gelijkstond aan 1 april
de morgen · about 10 hours ago
Fifas vändning: Får spela efter rött kort USA:s Folarin Balogun stängdes av efter ett rött kort i 16-delsfinalen. Men nu har Fifa gått in och hävt avstängningen. Enligt uppgifter till flera medier kom vändningen efter ett samtal från Donald Trump själv.
svenska dagbladet · about 10 hours ago
Trump official sought FIFA review of Balogun red card A Trump administration official asked FIFA to review U.S. striker Folarin Baloguns red card, a source familiar with the matter tells Axios.Why it matters: Direct intervention by a U.S. administration official in a FIFA disciplinary case would be highly unusual, and the reversal of Baloguns one-match suspension allows him to play in the knockout stage.The big picture: The episode underscores the extraordinary level of White House interest in the U.S. mens national teams World Cup run and raises questions about political involvement in international sports governance.Driving the news: The New York Times reported Sunday that President Trump spoke with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, though the source did not identify who contacted FIFA about Baloguns disciplinary case.Trump welcomed the reversal in a Truth Social post earlier Sunday, saying: "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!"Flashback: Balogun was red-carded in Team USAs 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina.Whats next: The U.S. plays Belgium in the round of 16 clash on Monday.
axios · about 10 hours ago