‘Spineless’: Zlatan Ibrahimovic slammed after backing FIFA’s controversial Folarin Balogun decision Football News
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been criticized for publicly supporting FIFA’s controversial decision to suspend the one-match ban on United States striker Folarin Balogun and allow him to play against Belgium in the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup. The decision, announced just days after Balogun received a direct red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, sparked a major controversy in football with reports that political pressure may have affected the result. The situation worsened after Donald Trump publicly claimed that he had personally contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ask for the decision to be overturned, with accusations of political interference quickly spreading and sparking widespread debate over FIFA’s independence and integrity. While FIFA insists the ruling was made independently, the timing of the decision and Trump’s own comments have only heightened scrutiny.
FIFA overturns Balogun’s ban ahead of Belgium’s match against Belgium
In the US team’s 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Balogun received a direct red card in the 64th minute. He is expected to miss the US team’s round of 16 match against Belgium.The Arsenal striker had opened the scoring before he was sent off for a challenge on Tarek Muharemovic, which carries an automatic one-match suspension under FIFA’s rules of the game.However, FIFA later announced that the penalty would not be implemented immediately.World football’s governing body said in a statement:“In accordance with Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, a ban is imposed, suspended for one year.”The decision means Balogun, who had three goals and three assists in the entire game, can still play against Belgium and the United States will advance to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.
Ibrahimovic supports FIFA’s decision
Ibrahimovic, who was a commentator on Fox Sports during the World Cup, welcomed FIFA’s intervention and believed Balogun should never have been sacked in the first place.“What I want to say is I’m happy for America,” Ibrahimovic said.“Like Thierry said, first of all he shouldn’t have received the red card and then the decision should have come faster.“But I’m happy for Team USA because they’re so good, but Balogun is so good and with him it’s an extra force.”His comments quickly sparked divisions online.One supporter wrote: “These people cannot criticize FIFA. This is blatant home cooking.”Another posted: “Zlatan often puts on a macho persona but when it really matters you will see him on live TV with zero spine.”
Henry agrees with outcome but questions timing
Ibrahimovic’s fellow Fox Sports analyst Thierry Henry He also insisted that Balogun should not have been sent off, but stressed that FIFA’s decision to postpone unfairly affected Belgium’s preparations.“Yeah, that’s breaking news from Belgium,” Henry said in a video shared on Fox Sports X.“It must have been a bit mentally draining for them because you prepare for the game to go a certain way and then suddenly you have to change your game preparation.“It’s the same thing when you do something like that. It takes three or four days to make a decision.”Henry reiterated his belief that the initial dismissal was incorrect.“Now we need to get back to it. I don’t think it was a red card, we all said that. We all know it wasn’t… he didn’t mean it.”Nonetheless, he acknowledged that FIFA’s late intervention caused disruption.“I have to say, if you are Belgian, preparing for games does change everything.”Henry added that while similar situations may have occurred before, with reference to Garrincha’s case from decades ago, the central issue remains one of timing rather than a final verdict.“I was like, OK, this is the right decision, but why so late?”
Neville, Keane and Wright condemn FIFA’s handling
The reaction from ITV Sport was more critical, with Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Ian Wright all questioning the process and FIFA’s consistency.Keane said:“It doesn’t seem fair because it’s unfair.“You have to look at the opponent’s preparation and it seems, shall we say, a bit like the behavior of friends.”Neville’s strongest criticism was of FIFA itself.“It absolutely stinks, let’s be clear.“The worst thing is there should be a review process because I didn’t actually think it was a red card.“I think there should be a process that allows it to be overturned, but if there’s no process to overturn it then FIFA will somehow decide to basically let a player play… and the rules will be the same for everyone.“If I were Belgium and all the other teams at the World Cup who have had a player sent off, I would absolutely be angry and they might think it’s a little difficult to do that.“You know what? Are we surprised? No, we’re not surprised about this shipment.”Wright also questioned FIFA’s impartiality in handling the incident.“The suspension was during the game.“It’s been suspended, which normally doesn’t happen, but we talk about integrity, people talk about transparency, but you look at some of the things that have happened with certain teams in this tournament… it’s disgraceful, especially because he’s an American player.“Whether what he did was culpable or not, whether we thought he deserved a red card or not, some of the things that happened at this World Cup are disgraceful.”Balogun’s availability has become one of the most controversial topics ahead of Seattle’s last-16 tie as Belgium have explored legal options over the decision and criticism has continued from across the football world.
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