Why is Folarin Balogun allowed to play? Explaining FIFA’s red card controversy and Donald Trump’s call

The United States is one win away from its deepest World Cup run since 2002, and a stunning decision by FIFA made Sunday has the American squad feeling more confident than ever.

Folarin Balogun's automatic one-game suspension following a red card against Bosnia an Herzegovina was rescinded, with the red card suspended and Balogun suddenly eligible to play against Belgium.

The decision, protested by Belgium, prompted backlash against FIFA and has been addressed by U.S. president Donald Trump, who admitted he spoke to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

Here's what you need to know about the Balogun decision and how it played out.

BONN: FIFA has turned Balogun situation into clown show with no winners

Why is Folarin Balogun allowed to play?

FIFA suspended Balogun's red card for one year, removing his one-game suspension and effectively putting him on probation for the next year. 

There was no mechanism for the United States to appeal Balogun's red card, which was controversial from the moment it was called. While most believed that meant Balogun's suspension would stand, FIFA cited a portion of its disciplinary code that allows the organization's "judicial body" to unilaterally suspend a disciplinary measure against a player.

FIFA exercised that right on Sunday, despite the United States not being able to appeal. Here's a look at the exact language in the code:

FIFA Article 27

A section of FIFA's disciplinary code states that the organization's "judicial body" has the right to suspend a disciplinary measure against a player.

"The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure," Article 27 of the code says. "By suspending the implementation of the sanction, the judicial body subjects the person sanctioned to a probationary period of one to four years."

MORE: How good is Folarin Balogun?

Did Donald Trump call FIFA's president?

Trump confirmed reports that he called FIFA president Gianni Infantino, telling reporters he "asked for a review" of the suspension.

"I didn't tell him what to do, I can't tell him what to do," Trump said, calling the red card a "horrible" decision.

Infantino also confirmed in a statement Monday that he spoke to Trump but denied that the president played any role in the overturning of the suspension.

"I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues," Infantino said. "During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold."

MORE: President Donald Trump reveals how he handled Folarin Balogun's red-card suspension

Who is FIFA’s president?

Swiss-born Gianni Infantino has been FIFA's president since 2016. This is the third World Cup overseen by Infantino, who was in the role when the 2026 World Cup was awarded to the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2018.

Infantino, who has a longstanding friendship with Trump, released the following statement Monday explaining the process behind the Balogun decision:

— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) July 6, 2026

Belgium statement on Folarin Balogun

The Royal Belgian Football Association released a lengthy statement on Sunday, saying the federation is "astonished" by the decision and calling the ruling a "direct contradiction" of FIFA's 2026 World Cup provisions.

"In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options," the Belgium said.

On Monday, Belgium released a new statement explaining that FIFA has granted the federation the opportunity to appeal, while still criticizing the organization:

After learning through media reports of FIFA’s decision to lift the automatic suspension of player Balogun, the RBFA sent a letter to FIFA requesting a copy of the decision, an explanation of the process that had been followed, and setting out its position regarding the applicable regulations.

As its only response, FIFA sent a letter to the RBFA stating that it considered this correspondence to constitute an appeal, that a judge had been appointed, and that the RBFA had only a few hours to complete that appeal. No information whatsoever was provided by FIFA.

For an appeal to be admissible, FIFA’s own regulations state that the reasoned decision must first have been communicated to the appellant. While the RBFA was merely seeking legitimate explanations, FIFA itself created an appeal and immediately ensured that it would be declared inadmissible.

All of this occurred while FIFA simultaneously refused to respond to the RBFA’s legitimate requests.

Hours after the 8 a.m. ET deadline for Belgium to make its case, FIFA declared the federation's appeal "inadmissible," explaining, "the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision." With that ruling, Balogun will play on Monday night.

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UEFA, others criticize FIFA over Folarin Balogun

In a statement, UEFA said Sunday that FIFA's Balogun decision "crossed a red line." Here's the full statement:

Yesterday’s 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.

Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition. Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not. A minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted. It is a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension.

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. Equally, such decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition.

Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because it is played everywhere with the same laws. A tournament is never a pure standalone and, if the tournament in question is the World Cup, it has the power to drive positive or negative consequences on the game as a whole.

We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.

Former England star Wayne Rooney called the decision an "absolute disgrace," adding that he believes "the sportsmanship of the game is in question here."

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 6, 2026

Infantino's predecessor, Sepp Blatter, also criticized the decision, implying that he believes Trump's influence played a major role.

Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies. If a U.S. President intervenes with the FIFA President — and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match — the question is unavoidable: Quo…

— Joseph S Blatter (@SeppBlatter) July 6, 2026

Norway manager Stale Solbakken laid into FIFA for the ruling, telling reporters, "It's a bad, bad, bad, bad, bad decision that will hurt the World Cup."