Chaos Surrounding the 2026 World Cup: Sepp Blatter Reemerges as Well

Among the many critical voices regarding the Balogun case is that of former FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who took to his social media accounts to lash out at Gianni Infantino’s handling of the situation: “Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence, and independent bodies.”

“If a U.S. president intervenes with the FIFA president, and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match, the question is inevitable: Quo vadis, FIFA? Soccer must never become a playground for political power.”

Among the various federations protesting is Switzerland, which in a statement called the decision “incomprehensible”: “The decision in the Balogun case is incomprehensible to the Swiss Football Association (SFA), regardless of how it was reached. Until now, the principle was clear: any player sent off was automatically suspended for the next match. This rule applied equally to everyone and ensured clarity and consistency.”

“This decision raises questions and creates uncertainty, particularly regarding the authority of refereeing decisions, especially when the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is involved. The credibility of the competition depends on clear rules applied consistently.”