Several European nations are alleging that FIFA has given preferential treatment to the United States after the organization cleared USMNT player Folarin Balogun to participate in the Round of 16 match against Belgium, following a contentious red card incident at the 2026 World Cup.
According to reports, FIFA has “revoked the red card issued to star U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, allowing him to play in Monday’s Round of 16 match against Belgium.”
Balogun, who plays for Arsenal in the English Premier League, scored the decisive goal for the USMNT in their match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, he received a red card for an incident where he unintentionally stepped on the ankle of a player from Bosnia late in the game.
The Brazilian referee, Rafael Kraus, reviewed the play using VAR, which surprisingly did not show even a yellow card. As the commentary team deliberated the seriousness of the incident, Kraus eventually issued a red card, surprising those in the stadium and the millions watching at home.
Notably, FIFA’s regulations state that “the judicial body may decide to suspend, in whole or in part, the implementation of disciplinary measures.”
Additionally, the rules say, “If a person benefiting from a suspended sanction commits another violation of a similar nature and severity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked,” meaning the earlier ruling could be overturned under certain conditions.
The Royal Belgian Football Association responded strongly, asserting its commitment to uphold fair play principles. They mentioned that they are exploring all avenues to defend the rights of all teams participating.
There has been considerable backlash online, especially from European fans and those generally critical of the U.S., suggesting that FIFA succumbed to pressure from President Trump to overturn the decision. This is despite FIFA having made decisions that seemed to go against players like Cristiano Ronaldo, who faced a similar situation, and Argentine star Lionel Messi, who escaped a red card against Algeria despite a clear penalty.
Supporters of the decision, however, quickly defended FIFA, noting instances where Cristiano Ronaldo was allowed to play even after receiving a suspension, as well as Messi’s avoided penalty.
