Wayne Rooney has launched a furious attack on FIFA after the governing body suspended a one-match ban for USA striker Folarin Balogun, calling it 'an absolute disgrace'. The controversy erupted during BBC coverage of the 2026 World Cup after the kick-off of the Mexico vs England match was delayed by an hour, leaving pundits with time to address the issue.
Balogun's Red Card Controversy
Balogun, the United States' top scorer at the tournament with three goals, was sent off during the round of 32 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina. The red card meant the former Arsenal striker was due to miss the last-16 clash with Belgium in Seattle. However, FIFA announced that his one-game suspension had been suspended for a year, with no official reason given. The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has expressed dismay at the decision.
US President Donald Trump weighed in on social media, stating: 'Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP.' Unconfirmed reports suggest Trump personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the red card.
Rooney's BBC Outburst
During the BBC broadcast, host Kelly Cates explained the situation, prompting former England goalkeeper Joe Hart to comment: 'It doesn't feel right does it?' Rooney then launched into an angry rant, saying: 'I think it's an absolute disgrace, I really do. I know it's UEFA. I got a three-game ban before Euro 2012. I was due to miss the three group games and I got told if I went over to Switzerland and did a training session with a bunch of kids, my third game would get taken off. I agreed to do it because I didn't want a three-game ban but I thought that was wrong.'
'For this to be suspended, they either take the red card away which is probably the right decision and then he can play. But to suspend it for a year? I think it's an absolute disgrace. Infantino should be ashamed of this. The sportsmanship of this game is in question here. If I'm USA's opponent, I'd be absolutely fuming. It's wrong in every way. If you're an England player tonight or a Mexican player, and you get a red card, do you expect to be playing the next game? Where does it stop?'
Fellow Pundits Join the Criticism
Rooney's colleague Micah Richards also weighed in, saying: 'It's an absolute farce isn't it? It wasn't a red card. Balogun was trying to protect the ball and he went down, it happens, football is a contact sport. To have it suspend it for a year makes a mockery of the whole tournament. Like you said [Wayne], if that happens again tonight, they'll say "you did it for one..." All this is to keep the big stars in the competition. America are one of the co-hosts. We all know what it is. FIFA need to do better.'
Rooney continued: 'It might even affect him not missing a World Cup qualifier, so it's not going to affect anything to do with the World Cup. It's been brushed away so it's not going to have anything to do with the World Cup.' Richards added: 'We've got to be honest about the situation. It's left a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths. When the integrity comes into question for such a big tournament, for that to happen, it's just not good enough.'
Impact on the Tournament
The decision has cast a shadow over the World Cup, with many questioning FIFA's impartiality, especially given the United States' status as a co-host. The delay of the Mexico vs England match, caused by a separate rule breach, only added to the chaotic atmosphere. Rooney and Richards' comments reflect a growing sentiment that FIFA's actions undermine the integrity of the competition.
