FIFA reverses Balogun suspension as Oliver Kahn calls for 2002 final replay

The FIFA Disciplinary Commission suspended the one‑match ban imposed on United States striker Folarin Balogun after his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, allowing him to play the round‑of‑16 match versus Belgium at the 2026 World Cup. The commission also levied a US $40,000 fine, split between violations of articles 14 and 66 of the FIFA Code of Discipline. The decision came after U.S. President Donald Trump urged FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review the sanction, a contact that Infantino confirmed but said he does not intervene in disciplinary rulings.

Former German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn mocked the reversal on social media, tweeting: “If we’re rewriting football history now, I have a small suggestion: I’d like FIFA to rescind the yellow card shown to Michael Ballack in the 2002 World Cup semifinal, the one that ruled him out of the final. And while we’re at it, we might as well replay the final against Brazil.” European Parliament members also called for a probe into the United States’ role in the case. Balogun ultimately played against Belgium, and the United States were eliminated 3‑1.