Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has criticised FIFA’s decision to clear USA forward Folarin Balogun to play against Belgium despite a red card suspension, following reports that President Trump contacted FIFA over the matter.
Football’s governing body is facing serious heat — and even a former FIFA President isn’t holding back.
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has criticised the organisation’s controversial decision to clear United States forward Folarin Balogun for Monday’s FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash against Belgium, warning that football must not bow to political pressure.
Reacting in a statement on Monday, Blatter questioned the circumstances surrounding the reversal of Balogun’s automatic suspension, following reports that U.S. President Donald Trump had contacted FIFA over the matter. “Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies,” Blatter said.
He didn’t stop there, raising pointed concerns about FIFA’s integrity: “If a U.S. President intervenes with the FIFA President — and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match — the question is unavoidable: Quo vadis (Where are you going), FIFA?”
Blatter also warned against political interference in football administration, stating, “Football must never become a playground for political power.”
The controversy stems from FIFA’s decision to allow Balogun to play against Belgium despite receiving a straight red card during the USA’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. Balogun, 25, was sent off following a challenge on Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic — a dismissal that would normally carry an automatic one-match ban. However, FIFA ruled that his suspension would instead be deferred for one year, clearing him for the Round of 16 fixture.
On Sunday, SaharaReporters reported that the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) strongly opposed the ruling, calling it inconsistent with FIFA’s Disciplinary Code and World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations. “The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) is astonished by FIFA’s decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play in the USA–Belgium match,” the federation said, citing Articles 66.4 and 10.5 which mandate automatic suspension following a red card.
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