La Liga president Javier Tebas has criticized the “complicit silence” surrounding FIFA after USA striker Folarin Balogun was lifted from his 2026 World Cup ban.
Balogun was able to feature in the 4-1 win over Belgium in the round of 16 after FIFA’s disciplinary committee decided to suspend his one-game ban for 12 months.
UEFA, which is at loggerheads with FIFA over a number of issues, sharply criticized the decision on Monday, calling it “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustified.”
However, outside of Europe, FIFA’s decision did not cause much fuss from football officials.
Conmebol, the South American football confederation, issued a statement in support of its referee Rafael Claus after US President Donald Trump called the Brazilian “a little suspicious”.
But he did not criticize FIFA or Trump, who said he had asked for the ban to be reconsidered.
Klaus was the referee who showed Balogun a red card in the match against Bosnia and Herzegovia after watching a video of the assistant referee.
Tebas said Balogun’s decision was the “tip of the iceberg” after a series of events that had “undermined confidence in FIFA and football in general over many years.”
The 63-year-old footballer accused FIFA of being a closed workshop in which decisions are made before a vote is held and without consulting the domestic leagues.
“And the worst thing is that most of the football world knows about it, but too many choose to remain complicit in silence,” Tebas said on X.
“Because it is more convenient to remain silent than to defend independence, transparency and good governance.
“World football deserves institutions that are accountable, respect the rules and govern transparently, not through unilateral, discretionary, arbitrary decisions that undermine the trust of fans, clubs, leagues and players.”