Zlatan Ibrahimović Criticized for Backing FIFA's Controversial Balogun Decision

Zlatan Ibrahimović has come under fire after publicly supporting FIFA's controversial decision to suspend the one-match ban handed to United States striker Folarin Balogun, allowing him to face Belgium in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16. The decision, announced just days after Balogun's straight red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, has sparked a major controversy across football, with reports suggesting political pressure may have influenced the outcome. The situation intensified after Donald Trump publicly claimed that he personally contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request that the decision be overturned, with allegations of political interference quickly spreading and fuelling widespread debate about FIFA's independence and integrity. While FIFA has insisted the ruling was made independently, the timing of the decision and Trump's own comments have only increased scrutiny.

FIFA overturns Balogun suspension before Belgium clash

Balogun had been expected to miss the United States' Round of 16 meeting with Belgium after receiving a straight red card in the 64th minute of the Americans' 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Arsenal striker, who had already opened the scoring before being dismissed for a challenge on Tarik Muharemović, automatically incurred a one-match suspension under FIFA's competition regulations. However, FIFA later announced that the sanction would not be enforced immediately. In a statement, world football's governing body said: "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 means Balogun, who has scored three goals and provided three assists across the tournament, remains available to face Belgium as the United States chase a first World Cup quarter-final appearance since 2002.

Ibrahimović backs FIFA's decision

Working as a pundit for FOX Sports during the World Cup, Ibrahimović welcomed FIFA's intervention and argued that Balogun should never have been dismissed in the first place. "What I want to say is I'm happy for the US," Ibrahimović said. "Like Thierry 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." His comments quickly divided opinion online. One supporter wrote: "These guy's aren't allowed to criticise FIFA. This is blatant home cooking." Another posted: "Zlatan fakes this big macho persona constantly but look at him with zero spine on live television when it actually matters."

Henry agrees with the outcome but questions the timing

Ibrahimović's fellow FOX Sports analyst Thierry Henry also maintained that Balogun should not have been sent off, but stressed that FIFA's delayed decision had unfairly affected Belgium's preparations. "Yeah, that's exactly what it is for Belgium, the breaking news," Henry said in a video shared by FOX Sports on X. "That must have broken their spirit a tiny bit because you also prepare the game to play a certain way and then suddenly you have to change your preparation of the game. "This is also what it does when you do something like that. Three, four days to take a decision." Henry reiterated his belief that the original dismissal was incorrect. "Now we need to go back to the point. I do not think it was a red card, and we all said it. We all know that it was not... he didn't do that on purpose." He nevertheless acknowledged the disruption created by FIFA's late intervention. "I have to say that if you're Belgium, to prepare the game, it does change everything." Henry added that while similar situations may have occurred previously, referencing Garrincha's case from decades ago, the central issue remained the timing rather than the final verdict. "I was kind of like okay, it is the right call, but why so late?"

Neville, Keane and Wright condemn FIFA's handling

The reaction on ITV Sport was considerably more critical, with Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Ian Wright all questioning both the process and FIFA's consistency. Keane said: "It seems unfair because it is unfair. "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." Neville reserved his strongest criticism for FIFA itself. "It absolutely stinks, let's be really clear. "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 also questioned the integrity of FIFA's handling of the incident. "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." With Belgium already exploring its legal options over the decision and criticism continuing from across the football world, Balogun's availability has become one of the tournament's most contentious talking points before the Round of 16 clash in Seattle.