La Liga president Javier Tebas has launched a scathing attack on FIFA, accusing the global football governing body of “complicit silence” regarding its controversial decision to suspend a World Cup ban for United States striker Folarin Balogun. Tebas, 63, voiced his strong disapproval on X, highlighting what he perceives as a lack of transparency and accountability.
The controversy stems from FIFA’s disciplinary committee opting to suspend Balogun’s one-game ban for 12 months, a move that allowed him to participate in the USA’s 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup. The original red card was issued by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus against Bosnia-Herzegovina following a video assistant referee (VAR) review.
Trump’s role in the controversial decision
The decision to spare Balogun from suspension has drawn particular scrutiny due to the involvement of former US president Donald Trump. Trump reportedly called referee Raphael Claus “a bit suspect” and later revealed he had personally asked for the ban to be reviewed. This alleged political influence on a disciplinary matter has fueled criticism from various footballing bodies.
UEFA, European football’s governing body, strongly criticized FIFA’s decision, describing it as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.” However, Tebas noted a broader lack of outcry from other confederations. “And the worst of all is that much of the football world is aware of it, but too many prefer to maintain a complicit silence. Because staying quiet is more comfortable than defending independence, transparency, and good governance,” Tebas wrote on X.
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A divided football world
While UEFA has been vocal, the reaction outside of Europe has been notably muted. Conmebol, the South American football confederation, issued a statement backing its referee, Raphael Claus, but notably refrained from criticizing either FIFA or Donald Trump. This stark contrast in responses underscores Tebas’s point about a “complicit silence” within the sport’s hierarchy.
Tebas did not mince words in his broader assessment of FIFA’s governance, stating that the Balogun decision was merely the “tip of the iceberg” in a series of events eroding FIFA’s credibility. He has previously accused FIFA of operating as a “closed shop,” making decisions without proper consultation with domestic leagues.
“World football deserves institutions that are accountable, respect the rules, and govern with transparency – not through unilateral, discretionary, arbitrary decisions that erode the trust of fans, clubs, leagues, and players,” Tebas concluded in his statement on X, as reported by BBC Sport.
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