Rafomac News, Tech & Trends That MatterBalogun received a straight red card in the Round of 32 against Bosnia, ruling him out of the next game— or so everyone thought. Then FIFA shocked fans and critics alike by suspending his ban, clearing the way for him to play Belgium in the Round of 16.
Everyone watching the World Cup assumed Balogun’s straight red card against Bosnia meant he’d miss the crucial Round of 16 clash against Belgium. A red card usually triggers an automatic one-game suspension, especially for serious foul play. Plus, unlike club football, FIFA doesn’t allow appeals during the tournament, so the decision seemed final.
But just days later, the unexpected happened. FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee suspended Balogun’s ban, letting him take his spot on the pitch against Belgium. The red card itself wasn’t overturned — the suspension was simply put on hold under Article 27 of FIFA’s disciplinary code. This means Balogun can play immediately, but the one-match ban remains suspended and could be enforced within the next year if he commits another serious disciplinary offense.
This stirred significant debate among players and analysts. The US coach Mauricio Pochettino called the original red card a harsh call, describing it as a normal football challenge. Star player Christian Pulisic and teammate Weston McKennie also questioned the fairness, noting that similar challenges during the World Cup weren’t punished so severely.
Even ESPN’s VAR analysis suggested the review didn’t follow FIFA’s own protocol — emphasizing that angles and point-of-contact should take priority over slow-motion freeze frames, which can exaggerate the severity of a foul. Fans quickly pointed out an earlier challenge on Lionel Messi, which drew neither a yellow nor red card, highlighting inconsistency in refereeing standards across the tournament.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time FIFA has suspended a ban rather than imposing it immediately. Cristiano Ronaldo benefited from the same article in the past, showing that the rule exists to handle exceptional cases. But not everyone is pleased. The Belgian Football Federation expressed astonishment at FIFA’s decision, vowing to explore all options to protect the integrity of fair play and ensure team rights are respected.
And in a surprising twist, former US President Donald Trump weighed in, calling the FIFA move a reversal of a “great injustice.”
In the end, Balogun walks onto the pitch with the red card still listed on his record, but without the immediate suspension. He’s effectively on a tightrope—another disciplinary slip within a year could activate the suspended ban alongside new sanctions. His presence against Belgium could prove decisive in this knockout stage but comes with a clear warning hanging over him.