Howard Webb calls FIFA’s Balogun red card reversal ‘not helpful’ as referee trust erodes

Howard Webb, the man responsible for overseeing match officials across English professional football, has publicly condemned FIFA’s decision to reverse Folarin Balogun’s red card at the 2026 World Cup. The PGMOL chief called the move “not helpful” and warned it risks deepening the already fractured relationship between fans and referees.

What actually happened

Balogun, the USMNT striker who entered the tournament as the squad’s most dangerous attacking threat, picked up a red card during the US’s 2-0 round-of-32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 3. The dismissal came after he stepped on an opponent’s ankle, a challenge the match referee deemed worthy of a straight red.

Under normal FIFA protocol, that red card carries an automatic one-match suspension. Balogun would miss the round-of-16 clash against Belgium. FIFA invoked Article 27, a previously obscure provision, to suspend that automatic ban. Balogun was cleared to play against Belgium. It marked the first time Article 27 had been used in this manner at a World Cup finals.

The reversal has been linked to a phone call between US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly involved in the discussions. Every other player who received a red card during the tournament served their ban. No exceptions, no Article 27, no presidential phone calls. Just Balogun.

Webb’s core concern

Webb argued that the reversal feeds conspiracy theories about referees and their decisions. Webb’s position is essentially this: the system works only if people believe it applies equally to everyone. The moment you carve out an exception for one player, in one country, at one tournament, the credibility of every other call becomes collateral damage.

The broader fallout

Webb isn’t alone in his criticism. Premier League CEO Richard Masters called for a reevaluation of FIFA’s appeal processes and raised pointed concerns about political interference in football governance. Multiple pundits have described the situation as a “farce.”

Belgium expressed disbelief at learning that their opponent’s best striker — the team’s top scorer with three goals in the tournament — had been reinstated through an unprecedented procedural maneuver ahead of their round-of-16 match.