USA striker Folarin Balogun was set to miss the last-16 clash with Belgium after being shown a red card in the round of 32 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, but FIFA suspended his one-game ban for a year
Wayne Rooney has slammed it as “an absolute disgrace” that USA striker Folarin Balogun has had his one-match suspension lifted by FIFA. The American forward is the tournament hosts’ top scorer at the World Cup with three goals, but received his marching orders during the triumph over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32.
The ex-Arsenal ace had been due to miss the last-16 showdown with Belgium in Seattle. Yet FIFA suddenly declared on Sunday evening that his one-match suspension had been put on hold for a year.
The governing body provided no reasoning for their decision, leaving the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) bewildered by the verdict. The US hadn’t even submitted an appeal against the dismissal.
US President Donald Trump posted on social media: “Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Multiple reports indicate Trump directly rang FIFA president Gianni Infantino to demand a reassessment of the red card. The row was discussed by the BBC punditry team after it emerged that the 1am kick-off between Mexico and England had been delayed to 2am due to poor weather conditions, giving the studio additional time to fill, reports the Mirror.
After BBC presenter Kelly Cates outlined the Balogun saga, Joe Hart replied: “It doesn’t feel right does it?” Rooney then delivered a scathing tirade, stating: “I think it’s an absolute disgrace, I really do.
“I know it’s UEFA but I got a three-game ban before Euro 2012. I was due to miss the three group games and I got told if I went over to Switzerland and did a training session with a bunch of kids, my third game would get taken off. I agreed to do it because I didn’t want a three-game ban but I thought that was wrong.
“For this to be suspended, they either take the red card away which is probably the right decision and then he can play. But to suspend it for a year? I think it’s an absolute disgrace. Infantino should be ashamed of this.
“The sportsmanship of this game is in question here. If I’m USA’s opponent, I’d be absolutely fuming. It’s wrong in every way. If you’re an England player tonight or a Mexican player, and you get a red card, do you expect to be playing the next game? Where does it stop?”.
Rooney’s fellow pundit Micah Richards then chimed in: “It’s an absolute farce isn’t it? It wasn’t a red card. Balogun was trying to protect the ball and he went down, it happens, football is a contact sport. To have it suspend it for a year makes a mockery of the whole tournament.
“Like you said [Wayne], if that happens again tonight, they’ll say ‘you did it for one…’ All this is to keep the big stars in the competition. America are one of the co-hosts. We all know what it is. FIFA need to do better.”
BBC host Cates then downplayed Richards’ comments, stating: “We don’t know what it is.”
Before Rooney interjected: “It might even affect him not missing a World Cup qualifier, so it’s not going to affect anything to do with the World Cup. It’s been brushed away so it’s not going to have anything to do with the World Cup.”
Richards then commented: “We’ve got to be honest about the situation. It’s left a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths. When the integrity comes into question for such a big tournament, for that to happen, it’s just not good enough.”
In their official statement, the Belgian FA said: “We are astonished by this decision. This decision is in direct contradiction to the provisions of the World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations.
“The automatic nature of such a suspension was also explicitly reaffirmed in World Cup 2026 Circular No. 16, which was distributed to all participating member associations on 12 May 2026. The same rule is reiterated at every Match Coordination Meeting prior to each match and all World Cup 2026 workshop presentations.
“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 World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the Belgian FA is investigating all potential options.”