Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter reacted to the soccer body’s decision to suspend USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun’s red card ban ahead of the team’s match against Belgium.
Blatter was banned twice by FIFA following a corruption investigation and remains suspended from participating in organizational activities until 2027. Current FIFA president Gianni Infantino ultimately replaced Blatter as leader.
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FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter greets the United States team ahead of their 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup match against North Korea at the Chengdu Sports Center Stadium. The match ended in a draw 2-2. (CSPA/USA TODAY Sports)
Balogun received a red card during the U.S. win over Bosnia and Herzegovina for stepping on the ankle of a defender while trying to contain a ball. The card was issued after a VAR review. Amid the uproar, a source told Pakinomist that President Donald Trump called Infantino and asked FIFA to review the play. The reversal was announced on Sunday.
“Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls,” Blatter wrote on X. “They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies. If a US president intervenes with the FIFA president – and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout game – the question is inevitable: Quo vadis, FIFA?
“Football must never become a playground for political power.”
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Folarin Balogun of the United States celebrates after scoring the USMNT’s third goal in the first half of the group stage, Group D match against Paraguay on June 12, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik and the head of the White House task force Andrew Giuliani assembled a team of lawyers outside the White House to challenge the use of slow-motion replay to give Balogun the red card, according to OutKick founder and Pakinomist contributor Clay Travis.
It is unclear how much FIFA took the approach into consideration.
Belgium were reportedly given the right to appeal the decision and asked FIFA for a comprehensive explanation as to why the suspension was extended.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it was “surprised” and Belgium coach Rudi Garcia mocked FIFA’s decision.
“I didn’t know that in the FIFA offices, the fifth of July was the first of April in Europe,” Garcia said through a translator. “The Belgian federation does not defend itself, it does not protect the national team. It defends football in general, it defends its integrity, its ethics. I think it is the first time in the history of the World Cup that there are these kinds of decisions.”
Folarin Balogun of the United States is comforted by teammates Giovanni Reyna and Timothy Weah after receiving a red card during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Carlos Barria/Reuters via Imagn Images)
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UEFA also said FIFA’s decision “crossed a red line.”
