Zlatan Ibrahimovic slammed for his response to FIFA suspending Folarin Balogun's red card

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been called out for his controversial reaction to FIFA's decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's red card.

Following Morocco's 3-0 win over Canada and England's blockbuster 3-2 victory over Mexico, all eyes will turn to the USA as the final 2026 World Cup hosts look to book their place in the quarter-finals.

The USA face Belgium the early hours of Tuesday morning at the Seattle Stadium, but were set to do so without their most important player of the tournament so far, Balogun.

Across their four matches at the World Cup so far, Balogun has scored three goals, having been rested in the final group stage match against Turkey.

However, things didn't exactly go to plan for the 25-year-old during their round of 32 meeting with Bosnia and Herzegovina as, despite scoring the opening goal, Balogun was shown a straight red card for a foul on defender Tarik Muharemovic.

Initially, this would mean that the star striker would not be available to play round-of-16 match against Belgium, but the decision was later altered after FIFA said the one-match ban would be suspended for a year.

A statement from FIFA read: “In line with article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year."

The decision has been met with widespread backlash from fans and pundits alike, with many calling for further explanation from FIFA President Gianni Infantino amid reports that The White House made a direct call to FIFA to ask Infantino to review the red card.

But Ibrahimovic, who is working as a pundit for FOX Sports during the World Cup, praised the call, suggesting that it actually had taken too long for FIFA to take action.

He said: "What I want to say is I'm happy for the US. Like Thierry (Henry) said, first of all he should not have had a red card, then this decision should have come quicker.

"But I'm happy for the US team because they have been amazing, but Balogun has been super amazing and with him it's an extra force."

Unsurprisingly, Ibrahimovic's comments didn't go down well with fans, with one writing: "These guy’s aren’t allowed to criticise FIFA. This is blatant home cooking."

READ MORE: Belgium are taking drastic action after FIFA overturn Folarin Balogun's suspension

While another, brutally added: "Zlatan fakes this big macho persona constantly but look at him with zero spine on live television when it actually matters."

Gary Neville tears into FIFA in brutal reaction to Balogun red card suspension

Unlike Ibrahimovic, the reaction from ITV Sport's punditry panel of Neville, Ian Wright and Roy Keane were outraged by the decision.

"It seems unfair because it is unfair," Keane said.

"You’ve got to look at the opposition team in terms of their preparation and it seems like a bit of a pal’s act shall we say."

Meanwhile Neville took aim at FIFA directly, adding: "‘It absolutely stinks, let’s be really clear.

"But what I would say, the thing that stinks the most is there should be a review process in place because I actually didn’t think it was a red card.

"I think there should be a process which allows it to be overturned, but if there’s no process for it to be overturned and then somehow FIFA, from nowhere, have decided to basically let a player play… and the rules are the same for everybody.

"I would be absolutely raging if I was Belgium and every other team in the tournament that’s had a player sent off that might think it’s a little bit hard done by.

"Do you know something? Are we surprised? No, not with this lot."

Wright suggested the decision was 'shameful' and called for more integrity, adding: "Suspensions are meant to be served during the tournament.

"This one being suspended, it doesn’t normally happen, but we’re talking about integrity, people talking about transparency, but you look at some of the things that have happened at this tournament with certain teams… it’s shameful, especially as he’s an American player.

"Whether he’s guilty of what he done, whether we think he should have got the red card or not, some of the things that have happened at this World Cup have been shameful."