Norway coach blasts FIFA’s ‘actually unhealthy’ Folarin Balogun decision…
Belgium isn’t alone.
Following FIFA’s beautiful decision to enable star striker Folarin Balogun to play in Monday’s Round of 16 match in Seattle after a purple card in the earlier U.S. match, Norway coach Ståle Solbakken stood by his fellow Europeans and blasted the ruling.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia had dismissed the transfer as a joke, while the Belgian federation was “astonished” by the “direct contradiction” of tournament guidelines, prompting it to start “investigating all potential options.”
In addition to the lack of transparency, Solbakken famous that an American victory could now be tainted by the surprising decision.
“I have to be honest, I think that’s a big mistake by FIFA,” Solbakken said following Norway’s 2-1 upset of Brazil. “I feel it isn’t a terrific conclusion. [Balogun] bought a purple card and the VAR concluded that it was a purple card. He was despatched off. That means you’re suspended for one game.
“I think what is really bad about that situation is it will be [hanging] over the United States now. Because if they beat Belgium, it will always have that extra thing about it. Maybe he scores a goal, maybe he plays a good game, and the Belgians will be furious.”
Stale Solbakken, Head Coach of Norway, attends a post-match press convention after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Brazil and Norway at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 05, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. FIFA through Getty Images
In addition to considerations relating to the notion of the decision — President Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to induce him to review the purple card — the Norwegian coach feared what kind of precedent this primarily unprecedented reversal units for the future.
United States of America ahead Folarin Balogun (20) before a Round of 32 match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area. Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
“What about the next red card? What happens then? Is there gonna be some committee somewhere that takes that card away?” Solbakken said. “It’s a bad, bad, bad, bad, bad decision that will hurt the World Cup. … It was not good for the sport or a good decision by FIFA.”
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