2026 World Cup: FIFA's decision to overturn Folarin Balogun’s red card "crosses a red line" (UEFA)

"Yesterday’s (5 July 2026) decision to suspend for a probationary period of a year the implementation of the one-match automatic suspension following the red card issued to the player Folarin Balogun crossed a red line," UEFA said, expressing its "disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision" in a statement published on 6 July 2026.

The European confederation is reacting to FIFA's decision not to impose the automatic suspension on AS Monaco forward. Sent off after receiving a straight red card for unsporting behaviour during the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 match between the United States and Bosnia (2-0, on 2 July), Balogun should have been suspended for his team’s Round of 16 match against Belgium (scheduled for 7 July), in accordance with the applicable…