UEFA accuses FIFA of crossing “red lines” in the case of player Balogun

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the decision of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to suspend the ban imposed on American striker Folarin Balogun in the World Cup was a “wonderful decision,” after he personally communicated with FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding the case, while the European Union (UEFA) considered that FIFA had “crossed a red line.”

The case shed light on the disciplinary mechanism in FIFA, and also prompted Belgium, which faces the United States at dawn on Tuesday for a ticket to the quarter-finals, to challenge Balogun’s eligibility to participate in the match.

The player was expelled for violent interference during the US team’s victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, a punishment that usually requires an automatic suspension for one match.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said that he had contacted Infantino to request that the case be reconsidered. He added, “Balogun did nothing wrong, and he is our best player. When you deprive a team of its best players and tell them you will not play, that is very unfair.”

He continued, “I think they made a really great decision. I asked for a review of the case. If one of the most prominent players was not allowed to participate, it would have left a big stain on the tournament.”

I conveyed this feeling to them.” Thus, one of the most prominent files of the tournament shifted from technical aspects and coaches’ choices to the debate about the limits of the relationship between football and political influence.

“We express our astonishment at this unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustified decision,” UEFA said in a statement, adding that FIFA had “crossed a red line.” He added, “When the protectors of the rules are unable to ensure their consistent application, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of the competition is damaged.”

FIFA’s decision also faced sharp criticism from several national football federations. “The regulations must be clear, transparent and predictable, and apply equally to everyone,” said Swedish Football Association President Simon Astrom. “When a red card penalty, which usually leads to suspension, is suspended in the middle of an ongoing tournament, without a clear explanation of the legal basis or how the regulations will be applied, this raises serious concerns.”

Appealing eligibility to participate
The Belgian Football Association said it was “surprised” by FIFA’s decision to consider Balogun eligible to participate, stressing its intention to appeal the decision.

The federation added in a statement on Monday, “The Royal Belgian Football Association has not yet received any decision or explanation from FIFA regarding this issue. Therefore, it has no choice but to appeal the player’s eligibility to participate in the next match.”

He continued, “Regardless of the sporting outcome of this match, the Belgian Football Association is deeply concerned about the course of events, and will continue during the coming hours, days and months to defend the basic principles of integrity, sporting ethics and fair competition, in a way that serves the interests of football as a whole.”

The criticism resonated widely within football circles.

“This is our game, not their game,” former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp said.

He added, “If Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino have already resolved this issue between themselves, that is crazy and calls everything into question. These two people, who have nothing to do with football, should not have any role in such decisions.”

For his part, the President of the German Football Association warned that “the integrity of the tournament and the credibility of FIFA are at stake,” while the criticism extended to the political arena, with the European Commissioner for Sport warning against “the politicization of sport and its use as a tool to achieve political goals.”

Within minutes of the decision being issued on Sunday, the news of the suspension of the penalty topped sports bulletins and talk shows, as analysts, commentators, and former players were divided between those who believed that FIFA had achieved justice and those who considered that it had undermined its rules itself.

This is not the first time this year that FIFA has been accused of mixing politics with sports, as Federation President Infantino attended the “Peace Council” meeting held by President Trump in February, and then faced questions about the political neutrality of the international federation.

Gross injustice
Balogun, who scored three goals for the United States in the tournament, was expelled after a video assistant referee review following a violent intervention on a defender from the opposing team during the American team’s victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32.

The red card required an automatic suspension for one match, which would have prevented Balogun from participating against Belgium in the round of 16. But FIFA decided instead to suspend the implementation of the penalty for a year of probation, while keeping the red card itself.

Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform, “Thank you to FIFA for doing the right thing and correcting a grave injustice,” while the White House celebrated Balogun’s return to the list through a post on the X platform.

England coach Thomas Tuchel said that Balogun’s intervention did not deserve a red card, but he questioned the justifications for suspending the penalty, especially after he saw his defender Jarrell Quansah sent off during England’s 3-2 victory over Mexico in the round of 16 on Sunday.

Tuchel told reporters at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico, “Who would cancel such a decision? And when? And on what basis? How far can this matter extend now? For me, this is strange. Where does it start and where does it end?”

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who left office in 2015 amid corruption accusations, also joined the list of critics.

Blatter said, “Red cards are not canceled through political phone calls. They are canceled according to the rules and evidence and through independent bodies. If the President of the United States intervenes with the President of FIFA and then the player suddenly becomes eligible before a World Cup knockout match, the question becomes inevitable: Where are you going, FIFA? Football must never turn into a playground for political influence.”