Ololade Adeyanju/
A major row has erupted at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Belgium formally challenged FIFA’s controversial decision to allow United States striker, Folarin Balogun, to face the Red Devils despite receiving a red card, with UEFA warning that the move has created a “dangerous precedent” that threatens the integrity of football.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) says it is “astonished” by FIFA’s last minute decision to suspend Balogun’s automatic one match ban after reports that US President, Donald Trump, personally appealed to FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, to review the punishment.
The decision means the Monaco forward is available for the World Cup last 16 clash against Belgium.
European football’s governing body, UEFA, reacted angrily on Monday, accusing FIFA of “crossing a red line” and warning that bending established disciplinary rules in the middle of a major tournament risks undermining confidence in the competition.
“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,” UEFA said.
It added that the decision was “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable” and warned it would force FIFA to treat similar disciplinary cases the same way for the rest of the tournament.
Under FIFA regulations, a straight red card normally carries an automatic one match suspension.
However, FIFA announced on Sunday that Balogun’s suspension would instead be placed on a one year probationary basis under Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, allowing him to play against Belgium while leaving the red card on his record.
FIFA did not provide any detailed explanation beyond citing the relevant article.
Belgium argues that the decision contradicts FIFA’s own competition regulations, which stipulate that any player sent off must automatically miss the team’s next match.
The RBFA said it is exploring “all potential options” to protect the rights of competing nations and the principle of fair play.
The controversy intensified after reports that Trump personally contacted Infantino following Balogun’s dismissal during the United States’ victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Trump later publicly thanked FIFA for “doing what was right” by reversing what he described as “a great injustice”.
The White House has maintained that Trump merely sought clarification on the disciplinary process and insisted that FIFA’s independent judicial bodies made the final decision after additional evidence was submitted during the appeal.
US head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, welcomed FIFA’s ruling, insisting Balogun should never have been sent off.
“It is a fair decision because it should have never been a red card,” Pochettino said after learning his leading scorer would be available for the knockout tie.
Outside football, political leaders also voiced concern over the apparent political influence.
European Union Sports Commissioner, Glenn Micallef, warned against the “weaponisation of sport for political purposes”, insisting that sporting decisions should remain the exclusive responsibility of sporting authorities.
Belgian Foreign Minister, Maxime Prévot, described the reports of political intervention as deeply troubling, saying that if a phone call had influenced FIFA’s decision, it would amount to undermining the basic principles of football and fair play.
Former FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, also criticised the decision, arguing that football “must never become a political playground” and warning that disciplinary sanctions should not be overturned because of political pressure.
The dispute has become one of the biggest controversies of the 2026 World Cup, with FIFA facing mounting scrutiny over whether political influence has compromised the independence of its disciplinary process.
UEFA’s intervention has further escalated pressure on world football’s governing body as Belgium continues to pursue legal and regulatory options ahead of its World Cup showdown with the United States.
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