What is Article 27 that allowed FIFA to lift Folarin Balogun’s ban? | OneFootball

FIFA has suspended the application of Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban, clearing the United States forward to face Belgium in the World Cup last 16 at 2am on Tuesday in Seattle.

FIFA said the automatic suspension was put on hold under Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, placing Balogun on a one-year probationary period.

Balogun had been sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the last 32 for a heavy stamp on an opponent’s heel and was set to miss the Belgium tie. Donald Trump thanked FIFA on Truth Social, describing the move as righting a wrong, although the dismissal itself was not regarded as scandalous.

The 65-page Disciplinary Code, last updated in 2025, defines offences and sanctions, governs the organisation and operation of FIFA’s judicial bodies, and sets out procedures.

Article 27 allows a disciplinary measure to be suspended in full or in part if the sanctioned person is placed on probation for one to four years, without detailed criteria on when this discretion should be used.

The clause does not appear in archives before 2019, so it appears to have been introduced during Gianni Infantino’s presidency. It was invoked in November 2025 to cut Cristiano Ronaldo’s three-match ban to one, meaning he did not miss a 2026 World Cup match.

That decision sparked debate as it reduced, rather than overturned, a ban. Balogun’s outright reprieve could set a precedent others may try to exploit, testing FIFA’s consistency.

Source: L'Équipe