Football’s governing body faces unprecedented backlash after deciding not to enforce automatic ban on US striker following presidential phone call.
The 2026 World Cup has been plunged into one of the most damaging controversies in its history after FIFA overturned the automatic suspension of United States striker Folarin Balogun – following a phone call from President Donald Trump to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The decision, described by UEFA as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable”, has triggered a furious response from European football’s governing body, Belgium’s government, and leading managers, with former FIFA president Sepp Blatter warning that “football must never become a playground for political power”.
The Balogun controversy
Balogun, the co-hosts’ leading goalscorer with three goals so far, was sent off during the United States’ Round of 32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina after his foot landed on the ankle of Tarik Muharemovic, causing it to buckle.Under World Cup regulations, a red card carries an automatic one-match suspension – a rule that has seen every other player sent off at this tournament serve a ban.
But FIFA’s disciplinary committee instead invoked a clause in its code allowing it to “fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure”, permitting Balogun to face Belgium in Monday’s last-16 tie in Seattle.
The decision was confirmed after Trump called Infantino on Thursday to discuss the suspension, sources familiar with the call told CBS News.
Trump, speaking on Monday, confirmed he had personally asked FIFA’s president to review the decision. “I’m the one that got them to do it,” he said, while insisting he “did not tell Infantino to suspend Balogun’s ban”.
The US president also called the referee who issued the original red card “suspect” and suggested star players should receive favourable treatment.
‘Integrity of the game is at stake’
Uefa issued a strongly worded statement condemning the move, saying that intervening to effectively cancel a suspension “crossed a red line”.
“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,” UEFA said.
The European governing body added that the decision “creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition”.
Belgium’s foreign minister Maxime Prevot said: “If a phone call is really the reason for this incomprehensible decision, it would be a blatant violation of the most basic rules of football and sport.”
The Royal Belgian Football Association has formally appealed FIFA’s decision.
Tuchel: ‘Where does this end?’
England manager Thomas Tuchel, whose side face Norway in Saturday’s quarter-final, expressed bewilderment at the disciplinary chaos.
“Where does this start and where does this end now?” Tuchel said.”Can we overturn it or not overturn it? What’s going on? Where to draw the line is the question that I ask. I have no answer to that.”
Tuchel, whose defender Jarell Quansah was sent off in England’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Mexico, highlighted the confusion over who can overturn decisions and on what grounds.
“I think first of all, to be very clear, that it [Balogun] was not a red card,” Tuchel said. “But VAR got involved and obviously three people from VAR and the referee checked it were then of the opinion that it was a red card, so the decision is made.”
“Who overturns this decision and when and on what grounds? And how far does this go now? It’s just strange for me. We just want to have consistency in the decisions.”
Infantino under pressure
The controversy has raised serious questions about Infantino’s leadership and FIFA’s independence, coming after years of the FIFA president cultivating a close relationship with Trump.
Infantino presented Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize at the World Cup draw, telling the president: “You can always count, Mr President, on my support, on the support of the entire football community.”
FIFA’s statutes explicitly forbid political interference in football, with countries regularly suspended for government involvement in national associations.
Infantino has rejected suggestions of political interference, insisting the disciplinary committee was independent. But as one observer noted, the suspension of the ban “felt like a presidential pardon”.
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: “This is our sport, not theirs. If Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino really sorted this out between themselves, it is madness; it calls everything into question.”
On the pitch: records and shocks
The tournament itself has delivered record-breaking numbers and stunning results. A record 4.64 million spectators attended group-stage matches, filling 99.7% of available seats.
Six teams have now secured quarter-final places: France, Spain, Belgium, England, Norway and Morocco – five European representatives and one from Africa.
Norway produced the shock of the round, with Erling Haaland scoring twice in a 2-1 victory over five-time champions Brazil – taking Norway to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
England overcame Mexico 3-2 at the iconic Azteca Stadium, with Jude Bellingham scoring twice in 98 seconds and Harry Kane converting a penalty despite England being reduced to ten men.”It’s the best night of my England career,” Bellingham said.
France edged Paraguay 1-0, with Kylian Mbappé converting a second-half penalty for his seventh goal of the tournament – drawing him level with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race.
Morocco produced a commanding 3-0 victory over co-hosts Canada, becoming the first African nation to reach the World Cup quarter-finals on more than one occasion.
Spain defeated Portugal 1-0, while Belgium thrashed the United States 4-1 in Seattle – a match in which Balogun played despite the controversy.
Quarter-final fixtures
The quarter-finals are now set:
– France vs Morocco (Boston, Thursday)
– Spain vs Belgium
– England vs Norway (Miami, Saturday 22:00 BST)
Henderson injured in celebrations
England’s preparations for the Norway clash have been disrupted by an unusual injury. Midfielder Jordan Henderson suffered a “really bad” wrist injury after falling from advertising hoardings while celebrating the Mexico victory.
“It looks really bad,” Tuchel said. “It’s a quite serious injury and it doesn’t fit to the evening that Jordan is now not with us. The doctor told me he is in hospital.”
Henderson joins Reece James on the sidelines, while Quansah is unavailable through suspension.
Sources: The New York Times, The Athletic, BBC Sport (6 July), New York Daily News, China Daily (Xinhua), Qazinform. China Daily, Vietnam News (7 July), CBC Sport, Cape Verde (AET), Australia (PENS), Vietnam.vn (7 July), FIFA’s official website.
