2026 World Cup: Football not political playground – Blatter blasts decision on Balogun

Former FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, has hit out at the world football governing body’s decision to suspend the red card shown to US striker, Folarin Balogun.

Balogun was sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina and was set to serve a one-match ban.

But on Sunday, FIFA announced that he would be eligible to play against Belgium in their last-32 clash.

“Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls,” Blatter wrote on X.

“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.”