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Rabat – United States forward Folarin Balogun has spoken publicly for the first time about the controversy surrounding FIFA’s decision to overturn his suspension during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, admitting he quickly realized his return would generate significant backlash.
Balogun became the center of one of the tournament’s biggest off-field controversies after FIFA cancelled the automatic one-match suspension he received following a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, allowing him to feature in the United States’ round of 16 clash against Belgium.
The unprecedented decision drew criticism from UEFA, the Belgian Football Federation, and several coaches, who questioned FIFA’s interpretation of its disciplinary regulations and warned the move could undermine confidence in the competition.
Speaking to CBS Sports, Balogun defended the challenge that initially resulted in his dismissal, insisting there was no malicious intent.
“It wasn’t intentional, and I was shocked. You could see that from my reaction,” he said. “I accepted the decision. When a challenge is unintentional, it doesn’t deserve a red card. It was an unfortunate situation that only increased the pressure on us.”
‘It wasn’t a normal situation’
The Monaco striker also admitted he understood the controversy surrounding his reinstatement almost immediately after learning he would be available again.
“My first reaction was simply happiness because I was back with the team,” Balogun said. “But after thinking about it, I realized this was going to create a lot of controversy.”
He acknowledged the unusual circumstances affected the squad in the build-up to the knockout match.
“I felt some tension among my teammates because it wasn’t a normal situation,” he explained. “As the match got closer, I tried to focus as much as possible, but it was difficult. There were a lot of distractions, and it was impossible to ignore them.”
Balogun revealed he was informed of FIFA’s decision only a couple of days before the Belgium match.
“A day or two before the game, they told me I would be back,” he said.
FIFA has never publicly detailed why Balogun’s case qualified as an exceptional circumstance under Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, despite the automatic suspension that normally follows a straight red card.
The decision has remained one of the defining controversies of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with reports also claiming that US President Donald Trump personally contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the suspension.
