Sepp Blatter Criticizes FIFA Decision on Balogun’s Red Card

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has expressed strong disapproval of FIFA’s decision to lift the red-card suspension of U.S. soccer star Folarin Balogun. This decision allows Balogun to participate in the upcoming World Cup match against Belgium, scheduled for Monday.

President Donald Trump praised the decision, while Belgian soccer officials reacted with outrage. The change followed Trump’s phone call to FIFA President Gianni Infantino after the U.S. team’s game against Bosnia-Herzegovina, where Balogun received a red card. The Associated Press reported the call, referring to a source who spoke under anonymity.

In a statement posted on X, Blatter criticized Trump’s reported intervention: “Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies….”

Blatter further questioned the integrity of FIFA, stating, “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 served as president of FIFA from 1998 to 2015, resigning amidst a corruption investigation. Earlier in the year, he supported calls for a fan boycott of World Cup matches in the United States, citing Trump’s domestic and international behavior.

Newsweek reached out to Blatter for more comments via an email to his foundation.

For inquiries related to this story, contact Newsweek editors Tobias Meyjes and Tony Phillips.

The situation continues to develop, and further updates are expected.