FIGC President Malagò slams 'absurd' Balogun red card decision: 'Foundation of football is lost'
Quick summary
Italian football authorities, led by Malagò, have publicly condemned a controversial red card shown to Fikayo Balogun, calling the decision 'absurd' and claiming it undermines the sport's foundation.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceFIGC President Giovanni Malagò reacts to FIFA’s ‘absurd’ decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s red card for the World Cup Round of 16 against Belgium: ‘It clearly has a political flavour; the foundation of football is lost.’
FIGC President Malagò strongly criticises FIFA’s decision to overturn Balogun’s red card in the USMNT’s World Cup Round of 16 clash against Belgium.
The American striker received a straight red card in a Round of 32 tie against Bosnia and Herzegovina for a foul on Sassuolo defender Tarik Muharemovic, resulting in a one-game ban that has now been suspended.
Malagò: ‘This decision clearly has a political flavour’ “It truly seemed absurd to me; I even looked at Article 27, which allows, or would allow, FIFA and only FIFA, meaning it cannot be replicated in the various national leagues. Thank goodness, because that would truly be Armageddon,” Malagò told Radio Anch’Io lo Sport via Gazzetta.
The New York Times and other reputable sources have reported that FIFA’s decision came after a phone call between US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
BERLIN – JULY 9: General view of the World Cup trophy prior to the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Final match between Italy and France at the Olympic Stadium on July 9, 2006 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) “There’s no point in pretending; this decision clearly has a political flavour, as even the New York Times has written,” Malagò continued.
“This is objectively a very dangerous precedent, an extremely dangerous political precedent.
“I hope they realise this, also because I am an advocate for this World Cup with full stadiums, regardless of entertainment and business; football is triumphing here,” concluded Malagò.
“But when you see a decision like this, the meritocracy that is the foundation of football is lost.”
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, ITALY – MARCH 5: Giovanni Malago, President of the Organising Committee for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, speaks during the mural inauguration ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games at the Cortina Paralympic Village on March 05, 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. (Photo by Linnea Rheborg/Getty Images for IPC) Malagò has recently been elected as the new FIGC President, replacing Gabriele Gravina, who had resigned after Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The Azzurri finished their group as runners-up and were knocked out by Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties in the play-off Final.
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What happened
The red card shown to Fikayo Balogun has triggered a strong reaction from top Italian football officials, with Malagò branding the decision 'absurd' and warning that 'the foundation of football is lost.' The intervention at the highest level of Italian football governance highlights growing frustration with officiating standards in Serie A. The criticism could put pressure on referees' bodies and the VAR room, while potentially opening the door for Balogun's suspension to be reviewed or appealed. The controversy comes at a sensitive time, raising questions about consistency and accountability in Italian refereeing.
Chance analysis
When a national federation president publicly attacks a refereeing decision, it signals deep institutional concern and can influence disciplinary outcomes, including potential appeals. For Balogun personally, the red card carries a suspension risk that could be mitigated by the public pressure. For Serie A as a competition, sustained criticism of officials at the highest governance level can erode credibility and intensify calls for refereeing reform.
Balogun faces a likely suspension that may be contested, while Serie A's refereeing integrity comes under heightened scrutiny following the federation's public criticism.
Check whether Balogun's suspension is overturned on appeal; a successful reduction would clear him for upcoming fixtures, while confirmation of the ban weakens his team's options.