UEFA has issued a scathing condemnation of FIFA's decision to overturn Folarin Balogun's automatic one-match suspension, calling it unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustifiable.

FIFA controversially lifted Balogun's ban following an intervention by U.S. President Donald Trump, clearing the United States striker to feature in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash against Belgium. Citing Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, FIFA suspended the sanction for a one-year probationary period rather than enforcing it.

In a statement published Monday on its official X account, UEFA warned that making mid-tournament exceptions to automatic suspensions undermines the integrity, credibility, and fairness of the FIFA World Cup 2026.