FIFA is proposing changes to its disciplinary code to prevent automatic one-match suspensions from being lifted in future competitions, following the controversy surrounding United States striker Folarin Balogun at the 2026 World Cup.
The proposed amendment is expected to be presented to the FIFA Council at its meeting in Zurich on Thursday, October 15, the first gathering of the governing body’s decision-making arm since the tournament.
According to a document reviewed by The Athletic, the proposal seeks to prevent the suspension of automatic one-match bans, with FIFA arguing that the change would provide greater certainty over player eligibility and protect the integrity of competitions.
The document states that the amendment is necessary “to ensure stability and predictability regarding player eligibility and, therefore, protect the integrity of competitions”.
However, the timing of the proposal has raised concerns among sources close to FIFA Council members.
The wording was reportedly circulated on Tuesday night, less than 48 hours before the meeting, prompting questions over whether the governing body was attempting to address the backlash from the Balogun case.
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Balogun, who plays for French club Monaco, received a red card during the United States’ 2–0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup round of 32 on July 1.
The dismissal initially appeared to rule him out of the subsequent round of 16 match against Belgium.
However, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee invoked Article 27 of its disciplinary code to suspend the implementation of his one-match ban for a probationary period of one year, making him eligible to play.
The United States subsequently lost 4–1 to Belgium and were eliminated from the tournament.
The decision attracted widespread criticism after US President Donald Trump confirmed that he had telephoned FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the case.
FIFA maintained that the decision was made by its independent disciplinary panel, while Infantino denied influencing the outcome.
US Soccer also challenged aspects of the decision to send Balogun off, raising concerns about the use of freeze-frames and slow-motion footage in the video assistant referee review.
UEFA, European football’s governing body, criticized FIFA’s decision as “incomprehensible” and said it had “crossed a red line”.
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The Balogun affair has added to scrutiny of Infantino, who has also faced questions over FIFA’s decision to award Trump its inaugural Peace Prize and a failed proposal to sell a stake in the governing body’s commercial business to private US investors.
Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, who is also a FIFA vice-president, wrote to Infantino last month seeking documents relating to the Balogun case.
Article 27, the provision used to suspend Balogun’s ban, gives FIFA’s judicial bodies the authority to suspend the implementation of disciplinary measures.
The proposed amendment would introduce additional limits intended to prevent the same mechanism from being used to lift automatic one-match suspensions in future competitions.
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The proposal is now set to be considered by the FIFA Council, although its eventual adoption will depend on the outcome of the governing body’s deliberations.
The debate is likely to focus not only on the wording of the disciplinary code but also on how FIFA can ensure consistent application of its rules and maintain confidence in decisions affecting player eligibility.
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