European Parliament Calls for FIFA Review Over Balogun Decision

The European Parliament has weighed in on the scandal surrounding FIFA’s decision regarding Balogun

An initiative raising questions about the independence of FIFA’s decision-making process is gaining support in the European Parliament. A group of lawmakers circulated a letter among their colleagues calling for an investigation into the circumstances under which the automatic suspension of U.S. national team forward Folarin Balogun was lifted after he was sent off during the World Cup.

Photo: operativmm.az

The document, which Euronews has reviewed, was sent to the soccer associations of all 27 European Union countries. Its authors are urging national federations, as members of FIFA, to officially demand an investigation into the decision-making process and determine whether it was influenced by external political pressure.

The reason for the appeal was the reversal of a one-match suspension for Balogun, who received a red card in the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to FIFA’s disciplinary regulations, the player was supposed to miss the next match. However, FIFA suspended the sanction by invoking a mechanism provided for in the regulations that had not previously been used at World Cups. This allowed Balogun to take the field in the Round of 16 match against Belgium, which ended in a 1–4 loss for the U.S. team.

Statements by U.S. President Donald Trump added further controversy to the story. He confirmed that he had contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino after Balogun’s ejection, calling the referee’s decision unfair, but stated that he had not asked for the penalty to be rescinded. Later, Trump publicly thanked Infantino for “righting a great injustice.” The FIFA president, in turn, emphasized that the organization’s disciplinary body operates independently and makes decisions without external interference.

FIFA’s decision drew criticism from the European soccer community. UEFA called it unprecedented and unfounded, while the Royal Belgian Football Association officially contested Balogun’s eligibility to play in the playoff match. European Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef also criticized the lifting of the suspension, calling it a mistake.

The petition was initiated by Members of the European Parliament Barry Andrews (Renew Europe), Lara Walters, and Nils Fuglsang (Socialists and Democrats Group). They hope to secure the support of as many parliamentarians as possible before the signature-gathering period ends. The authors of the letter are calling on European soccer associations to seek to hold FIFA leadership accountable if the investigation reveals a violation of the principle of political neutrality in the disciplinary decision.

The situation is gradually moving beyond the realm of sports, intensifying the debate over the independence of international sports organizations and their interactions with political leaders.