World football governing body says its actions were “nothing new” and not different to measures taken by leagues affiliated with Uefa
Fifa has launched a fierce counterattack against Uefa, accusing the European body of hypocrisy for condemning the decision to allow USA striker Folarin Balogun to play in the World Cup last-16 match against Belgium.
Uefa had criticised the decision as “incomprehensible and unjustifiable” and said the world football governing body “crossed a red line”. But Fifa has hit back in a statement and said the decision to suspend Balogun’s automatic one-match ban was “a balanced measure” and “nothing new in the modern game”.
The body also pointed out that suspension of bans that follow red cards is regularly done by leagues affiliated with Uefa, “yet this has never raised concerns about crossing any ‘red line’”.
Fifa’s intervention to make Balogun eligible for the game was revealed to have come after US president Donald Trump made three calls to the governing body from last Wednesday. This has much criticism given already existing fears that Infantino is being heavily influenced by Trump.
However, Infantino has issued a statement insisting he played no part in the decision.
“I read the decisions of the Fifa disciplinary code when they are issued,” Infantino said. “Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree.”
All love for Balo on his birthday 🔊 pic.twitter.com/B9kqpfU4ET
— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) July 3, 2026
Fifa’s statement did not address Trump’s role in the review, but it emphasised that the disciplinary committee acted independently of Fifa’s executive, which is led by Infantino.
“The Fifa disciplinary committee (as any other Fifa judicial body) is independent as provided by the Fifa statutes and the Fifa disciplinary code,” the body’s statement said.
“The chairpersons, deputy chairpersons and other members of the Fifa judicial bodies fulfil the independence criteria as defined in the Fifa governance regulations to ensure their impartiality.”
In justifying its position, Fifa said the decision to suspend the ban was taken “considering all of the specific circumstances surrounding the incident and evidence available”. The committee concluded that the suspension was justified as long as they did not overturn the original on-field ruling of the referee.
“It should be emphasised that in the decision under scrutiny, the red card was not overturned,” Fifa said. “Suspending the effects of a red card based on an explicit provision of the applicable regulations [article 27] is a much more balanced measure.”
The body added: “The exercise of such discretion is fully consistent with the general guiding principles for the determination of the applicable disciplinary sanction pursuant to article 25 of the Fifa disciplinary code.”
