Wayne Rooney delivers furious on-air rant after Folarin Balogun red card suspended

Wayne Rooney has labelled FIFA's decision to suspend the red card awarded to United States striker Folarin Balogun as an 'absolute disgrace' after reports emerged that US President Donald Trump personally intervened.

Balogun was shown a straight red card during USA's 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 for serious foul play after he inadvertently stood on the ankle of Tarik Muhamremovic.

That meant the 25-year-old, who has scored three goals during the World Cup, was given an automatic one-match ban and was due to miss USA's last 16 tie against Belgium in Seattle on Tuesday.

But in an extraordinary development, it was announced on Sunday evening that Balogun's red card ban has been suspended for a year, meaning he is now available to play against Belgium.

The New York Times reported that Trump had personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked for the punishment to be reviewed.

US Soccer did not originally appeal the sanction but it is claimed that senior officials from the Trump administration, including Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House's World Cup task force, 'engaged lawyers to help the US Soccer Federation try to appeal, despite FIFA's rules against such appeals'.

Following the announcement of the ban suspension, Trump wrote on his Truth Social page: "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!"

FIFA has pointed to Article 27 of its disciplinary code when asked by various outlets over why it suspended the ban.

The Article states that FIFA 'may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure', while imposing a 'probationary period of one to four years' on the player.

"If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period [which is one year], the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement," a FIFA statement reads.

Balogun was shown a straight red card for serious foul play against Bosnia and Herzegovina (Image: Getty)

There is no precedent for the decision at the World Cup itself, with all other 11 players sent off during the tournament given bans.

But prior to the World Cup, FIFA suspended the final two matches of Cristiano Ronaldo's three-match suspension - which would have seen him miss Portugal's opening two group games - for a one-year probationary period.

That has allowed him to play a full part at the World Cup, and he served his one-match ban in Portugal's final World Cup qualifying match.

'Infantino should be ashamed' - Rooney on Balogun red card saga

FIFA's decision on Balogun was discussed during BBC's coverage of England's 3-2 win over Mexico in the early hours of Monday morning UK time.

Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card in the second half of the match - with manager Thomas Tuchel joking that he might ask England captain Harry Kane to personally call Trump to request a review and questioning FIFA's decision on Balogun.

Prior to the match, though, former Manchester United and England forward Rooney took a much stronger view.

"I think it's an absolute disgrace. I really do," he began.

"I know it's UEFA, but I got a three-game ban before Euro 2012," Rooney recalled. I was due to miss the three group games, and I got told if I went over to Switzerland and did a training session with a bunch of kids, my third game would get taken off [England had appealed the severity of the initial ban].

"I agreed to do it because I didn't want to get a three-game ban, but I thought that was wrong.

"For this to be suspended, they either take the red card away - which is probably the right decision - and then he can play. But to suspend it for a year? I think it's an absolute disgrace. Infantino should be ashamed of this.

"The sportsmanship of this game is in question here. If I'm USA's opponent, I'd be absolutely fuming. It's wrong in every way. If you're an England player tonight or a Mexican player, and you get a red card, do you expect to be playing the next game? Where does it stop?"

Belgian FA issue strongly-worded statement to FIFA

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) released a statement on the matter shortly after the suspension of Balogun's one-match ban was announced.

In it, they described themselves as 'astonished' by the decision and confirmed that they are 'investigating all potential options'.

"FIFA bases its decision on Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code," the statement reads. "The provision states that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may decide to suspend the enforcement of a previously imposed disciplinary sanction.

"However, Article 66.4 of the same FIFA Disciplinary Code clearly provides that a red card (sending-off) automatically results in a suspension for the team's next match, as has been the case for all previous red cards issued during this FIFA World Cup.

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"Furthermore, and irrespective of the above, the decision is in direct contradiction with the provisions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations as set out in Article 10.5 ... The automatic nature of such a suspension was also explicitly reaffirmed in FIFA World Cup 2026 Circular No. 16, which was distributed to all participating member associations on 12 May 2026.

"The same rule is reiterated at every FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Coordination Meeting prior to each match and is included in all FIFA World Cup 2026 workshop presentations.

"In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options."