Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has criticised FIFA after the governing body suspended Folarin Balogun’s automatic one-match ban, clearing the United States striker to face Belgium in Monday’s World Cup Round of 16 clash following reports of intervention from U.S. President Donald Trump.
The decision, announced on Sunday, has sparked one of the biggest controversies of the tournament. Balogun’s availability for the knockout tie has drawn criticism from across the football world, with Blatter becoming the highest-profile figure to question the circumstances surrounding FIFA’s ruling.
Balogun had been handed an automatic one-match suspension after being sent off during the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The 25-year-old had opened the scoring before receiving a straight red card following a VAR review for a challenge on Tarik Muharemovic.
With three goals to his name, Balogun is the United States’ leading scorer at the tournament and a key figure in United States coach Mauricio Pochettino’s attack heading into the last-16 clash.
Blatter did not hold back in his criticism of the governing body. In a post on X, the former FIFA chief questioned whether football’s disciplinary process had remained independent.
“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 vadis, FIFA?
“Football must never become a playground for political power.”
Blatter’s remarks came amid reports that Trump had personally contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino after the United States’ victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, asking the governing body to review Balogun’s dismissal.
The Latin phrase Quo vadis, meaning “Where are you going?”, underscored Blatter’s criticism of FIFA’s direction under Infantino.
While FIFA has not commented publicly on the reported conversation between Trump and Infantino, the governing body confirmed on Sunday that it had suspended the implementation of Balogun’s automatic one-match ban under Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
“By operation of Article 27 FDC, the implementation of the automatic match suspension for USA player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year,” FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee said in a statement.
“If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”
The decision effectively cleared Balogun to feature against Belgium despite the red card remaining on his disciplinary record.
The ruling has also drawn criticism from Belgian officials, who questioned the timing and circumstances surrounding FIFA’s intervention.
Trump later welcomed the decision on Truth Social, writing: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!”
The ruling also vindicated the stance taken by Pochettino, who had argued immediately after the Bosnia and Herzegovina match that Balogun’s challenge did not warrant a straight red card.
For Blatter, the episode marks the latest point of contention with FIFA’s current leadership. The Swiss administrator served as FIFA president from 1998 to 2015 before resigning amid a corruption investigation.
He has frequently criticised Infantino’s administration and earlier this year backed calls for a fan boycott of World Cup matches in the United States over concerns surrounding Trump’s administration.
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