Arabic version: يويفا يدين قرار فيفا بشأن إيقاف بالوجون

Uefa has strongly criticised Fifa’s shock decision not to uphold Folarin Balogun’s automatic ban at this World Cup, calling it “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable”. United States striker Balogun, who was sent off against Bosnia-Herzegovina, should have served a suspension for the last-16 tie against Belgium (Tuesday 01:00 BST). However, Fifa’s intervention has allowed him to play, raising questions about the integrity of the tournament.

According to BBC News, this decision was reportedly influenced by a phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump to Fifa President Gianni Infantino on Thursday. Following the announcement, Trump expressed gratitude to Fifa for “reversing a great injustice”.

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said in a statement that it “has no alternative but to challenge the player’s eligibility for the upcoming match”, with Belgium’s foreign minister, Maxime Prevot, criticizing the decision as a blatant violation of the most basic rules of football and sport. Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter also condemned the intervention, asserting that political influence should not dictate sporting outcomes.

Uefa emphasized that an automatic suspension of one match “is not a discretionary option” and it is “a principle embedded in regulations”. They expressed concerns that Fifa’s decision undermines the credibility of the competition and creates a troubling precedent for future disciplinary actions. As the tournament progresses, the uncertainty created by this ruling has left many questioning the consistency of disciplinary processes at the World Cup.