Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has reacted to the soccer organization’s decision to suspend the red card of United States World Cup star Folarin Balogun ahead of the team’s match against Belgium.
Blatter was twice suspended by FIFA following a corruption investigation and remains suspended from participating in the organization’s activities until 2027. Current FIFA president Gianni Infantino eventually replaced Blatter as director.
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FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter greets Team USA before their 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup match against North Korea at Chengdu Sports Center Stadium. The match ended in a 2-2 draw. (CSPA/USA TODAY Sports)
Balogun received a red card during the United States’ victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina for stepping on a defender’s ankle while trying to corral a ball. The card was issued after a VAR review. Amid the uproar, a source told Pak Gazette 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 in
“Football should never become a playing field 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 their Group D group stage match against Paraguay on June 12, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Kirby Lee/Image Images)
Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik and White House task force leader Andrew Giuliani assembled a team of lawyers outside the White House to question the use of slow-motion replay to give Balogun the red card, according to OutKick founder and Pak Gazette contributor Clay Travis.
It is unclear to what extent FIFA took this approach into account.
Belgium was reportedly granted the right to appeal the decision and asked FIFA for a full explanation as to why the suspension was postponed.
The Royal Belgian Football Federation (RBFA) was “astonished” and the Belgian coach, Rudi García, mocked FIFA’s ruling.
“I didn’t know that at the FIFA offices, July 5 was April 1 in Europe,” García 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 this type of decision has been made.”
Folarin Balogun of the USA is consoled by teammates Giovanni Reyna and Timothy Weah after receiving a red card during the 2026 FIFA World Cup 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.”
