FIFA Suspends Balogun Red Card for 1 Year After Trump Urges Review
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 18
FIFA Suspends Balogun Red Card for 1 Year After Trump Urges Review
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 18
Summary
Folarin Balogun’s red card from the United States’ 2-0 last-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina was suspended for a one-year probationary period, letting him avoid an immediate ban.
FIFA said it acted after Donald Trump urged president Gianni Infantino to review the case, triggering accusations that the governing body bent its rules under political pressure.
Belgium’s football association, UEFA, a former FIFA chief and several former players criticized the reprieve, though the dispute faded after Belgium beat the U.S. 4-1 in the last 16.
The episode emerged as one of the 48-team World Cup’s biggest controversies and left calls for FIFA to tighten tournament rules before 2030.