Former DR Congo international Yannick Bolasie has questioned FIFA’s consistency after the governing body suspended the one-match ban handed to United States striker Folarin Balogun, allowing him to feature in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash against Belgium.
Balogun had been expected to miss the knockout fixture after receiving a red card during the USA’s victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32.
However, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee ruled on Sunday to defer the automatic one-match suspension for a one-year probationary period under Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, making the striker immediately eligible for selection.
The decision has sparked widespread debate, with Bolasie suggesting such leniency would never be accepted if it involved an African competition.
“All I’ll say is if this was AFCON and they let a man play after he got a red card, the nonsense being said would be crazy,” Bolasie wrote on his official X account.
Folarin Balogun of the United States foul on Tarik Muharemovic of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Photo credit: Getty Image
The former Crystal Palace winger argued that administrative decisions in global competitions are often treated differently from those involving African football, reigniting long standing discussions over perceived double standards.
The ruling also drew a strong reaction from the Royal Belgian Football Federation, which expressed surprise at FIFA’s decision.
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In a statement released on Sunday, the Belgian federation described itself as “astonished” by the suspension deferral and pointed to FIFA regulations that describe red-card suspensions as automatic sanctions.
Belgium also confirmed it was examining all possible avenues available in response to the decision.
The case has become one of the most controversial disciplinary decisions of the tournament because postponing an automatic suspension after a red card remains extremely rare.
It is not the first time FIFA has faced scrutiny over such decisions during the 2026 World Cup.
Earlier in the tournament, Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo was cleared to participate despite carrying a three-match suspension imposed during a World Cup qualifying match last November for elbowing an opponent.
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That sanction would have ruled Ronaldo out of Portugal’s opening two World Cup matches before FIFA similarly placed the suspension on hold.
