FIFA's Handling of Balogun's Red Card Under Scrutiny Amid New Allegations
Gianni Infantino is experiencing renewed criticism regarding FIFA's management of Folarin Balogun's red card incident during the 2026 World Cup. This scrutiny arises as new allegations question the reversal of the decision, coinciding with Infantino's increasing opposition ahead of the upcoming election.
Balogun received a red card while playing for the United States against Bosnia and Herzegovina, leading to an automatic one-match suspension that could have excluded him from the round-of-16 match against Belgium. However, FIFA's disciplinary panel later lifted the suspension, allowing him to participate in the match, which the U.S. lost 4-1.
The decision has drawn criticism from European soccer officials, who have raised concerns about the consistency of FIFA's disciplinary actions. Reports indicate that U.S. President Donald Trump contacted Infantino regarding the suspension, with sources claiming that Infantino assured Trump he would resolve the issue. FIFA has denied any changes to its stance based on these claims. Additionally, there are proposals to amend FIFA's disciplinary regulations to prevent the suspension of automatic bans following red cards, which may relate to the Balogun case.
