FIFA considers controversial rule change to justify 2026 World Cup Balogun scandal

FIFA chiefs are drafting a regulatory amendment effectively designed to retroactively legitimise the controversial decision not to suspend United States striker Folarin Balogun during the 2026 World Cup.

The controversy erupted after the American forward was shown a straight red card in a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Brazilian referee Klaus sent Balogun off following a VAR review. Under established football rules, such a dismissal carries an automatic and non-appealable suspension of at least one match.

However, the situation took a dramatic turn after direct intervention from US President Donald Trump, who held a phone call with FIFA president Gianni Infantino insisting the striker be cleared for the round-of-16 clash against Belgium. In an unprecedented move, the Disciplinary Committee froze the sanction, sparking widespread outrage across international football and political spheres. Balogun was ultimately cleared to play, but the US suffered a comprehensive 4-1 defeat.

Ahead of the upcoming FIFA Council meeting, world football's governing body is seeking to provide legal cover for the incident. Just 30 hours before the session, council members received a draft amendment to Article 27 of the Disciplinary Code. The proposed wording stipulates that an automatic one-match ban can never be suspended in the future—an apparent attempt to imply that the previous controversy was caused by regulatory ambiguity.

That reasoning, however, flies in the face of official Circular No. 16 for the 2026 World Cup—which explicitly defines the sanction as strictly automatic—as well as several directives issued between 2002 and 2005 that Zurich now appears keen to overlook.

It remains to be seen whether the FIFA Council will ratify the proposal or shelve it amid mounting backlash. The move comes at a sensitive time ahead of November 18, the deadline to confirm any potential challengers to Infantino in the upcoming FIFA presidential race.

Balogun, who plays his club football for Monaco, will not feature against CSKA tomorrow after being omitted from their Europa Conference League squad.