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Saturday, 17 October 2026

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FIFA plans rule change after Balogun controversy

FIFA is considering changing its regulations regarding automatic suspensions following the incident involving Folarin Balogun in the World Cup round of 16.

Archive photo: FIFA plans rule change after Balogun controversy
Archive photoPhoto: CDAG · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

FIFA is reportedly contemplating changes to the regulations regarding automatic suspensions in football. This discussion was sparked by the incident involving Folarin Balogun, who was allowed to play in the World Cup round of 16 despite having received a red card. This case has generated significant discussion in recent weeks and is now leading to a potential change in the rulebook.

According to a report from "Kicker," FIFA could ensure in the future that automatic one-match suspensions cannot be suspended. This would mean that players who receive a red card cannot participate in the following matches, regardless of any special permits.

The Balogun incident, in which the player remained on the pitch despite receiving a red card, has caused a stir not only in the media but also within FIFA itself. Multiple sources report that the issue is being heavily discussed in internal FIFA circles to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Archive photo: FIFA plans rule change after Balogun controversy
Archive photoPhoto: Faisal Ahammad · wordpress.org · CC0

At the last FIFA Council meeting in Zurich, strategic responses from FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding critically held topics were absent. Critics from Europe had numerous questions that remained unanswered on that day. The dissatisfaction with the lack of clarifications has kept the calls for his resignation alive.

Moreover, it was mentioned that the discussion on the future handling of regulations needs to be revitalized in light of the peace prize. It remains unclear how the proposed rule change will impact the current situation within the organization.

It remains to be seen what these potential rule changes could mean for the conduct of future tournaments. FIFA has yet to provide official confirmation regarding the introduction of these rule changes, keeping the situation intriguing.