German FA's Neuendorf demands FIFA explanation on Balogun's red card suspension
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 6, 2026, 9:07 AM
Last updated Jul 6, 2026
Bernd Neuendorf, president of the German Football Federation (DFB), called for FIFA to clarify its recent decision regarding Folarin Balogun's red card suspension. Balogun received the red card during the US team's 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina but was later deemed eligible to play against Belgium after FIFA suspended his ban. Neuendorf expressed concerns about perceived political interference, particularly following a reported phone call between US President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Trump praised FIFA's decision on social media, although neither FIFA nor the White House has officially commented on the report.
- •Folarin Balogun received a red card in a match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
- •FIFA later suspended his ban, allowing him to play against Belgium.
- •Neuendorf seeks answers from FIFA about political interference claims.
- •Trump's alleged call to Infantino preceded the suspension of Balogun's red card.
- •FIFA and the White House have not yet commented on the situation.
- 12:49 PMYahoo Sports — German sports lawyer: FIFA ruling on Balogun is fundamentally wrong
- 9:07 AMYahoo Sports — Balogun case: German FA chief wants answers from FIFA
"German Football Federation (DFB) president Bernd Neuendorf has said that world governing body FIFA must explain itself in the case of American World Cup player Folarin Balogun. “FIFA should now issue a prompt statement regarding reports that the decision to suspend the red card shown to the American player Folarin Balogun was preceded by a telephone call between US President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino,” Neuendorf said in a statement on Monday.
"FIFA has ignored "fundamental principles of sports law" when it suspended a red-card suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun at the World Cup, a German legal expert has said. “FIFA’s decision to rescind the red card for the next match and suspend the ban on probation is unlawful," Thomas Summerer, a specialist attorney for sports law in Munich, told dpa.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsJul 6, 2026, 12:49 PMGerman sports lawyer: FIFA ruling on Balogun is fundamentally wrong
FIFA has ignored "fundamental principles of sports law" when it suspended a red-card suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun at the World Cup, a German legal expert has said. “FIFA’s decision to rescind the red card for the next match and suspend the ban on probation is unlawful," Thomas Summerer, a specialist attorney for sports law in Munich, told dpa.
- Yahoo SportsJul 6, 2026, 9:07 AMBalogun case: German FA chief wants answers from FIFA
German Football Federation (DFB) president Bernd Neuendorf has said that world governing body FIFA must explain itself in the case of American World Cup player Folarin Balogun. “FIFA should now issue a prompt statement regarding reports that the decision to suspend the red card shown to the American player Folarin Balogun was preceded by a telephone call between US President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino,” Neuendorf said in a statement on Monday.
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