Rabat – UEFA has issued a strongly worded statement criticising FIFA’s decision to suspend the implementation of Folarin Balogun’s automatic one-match ban ahead of the United States’ World Cup round of 16 game against Belgium.
The statement marks the sharpest institutional reaction yet to FIFA’s controversial ruling, which allowed the US striker to remain eligible despite receiving a straight red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the previous round.
“Yesterday’s decision … crossed a red line,” UEFA said, arguing that the automatic suspension following a red card “is not a discretionary option” and “cannot be made subject to exceptions.”
UEFA warned that the decision risks damaging the integrity and credibility of the competition, especially given that other players during the tournament had already served automatic suspensions under the same rules.
“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,” the statement read.
The organization also criticized the timing of the decision, saying it creates a dangerous precedent for the remainder of the tournament.
“Such a decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition,” UEFA added.
FIFA had justified the move under Article 27 of its disciplinary code, suspending Balogun’s ban for a one-year probation period. The ruling came shortly before the United States’ meeting with Belgium in Seattle.
The controversy intensified after US President Donald Trump publicly thanked FIFA for “reversing a great injustice.” At the same time, reports from The Guardian claimed the White House had lobbied FIFA over the suspension. FIFA has not publicly commented on those reports.
UEFA concluded its statement by describing FIFA’s ruling as “an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision,” warning that the consequences could be beyond the current tournament.
