FIFA will revise Article 27 of its disciplinary regulations to address the automatic one-match ban for red cards. The governing body suspended the automatic ban for US forward Folarin Balogun, who featured in Belgium's last-16 match.
US President Donald Trump personally requested that FIFA president Gianni Infantino review the sanction against Balogun. The Belgian Football Association (RBFA) initiated the process by raising the issue of Article 27 with FIFA and seeking clarification on a July decision.
RBFA president and FIFA Council member Pascale Van Damme confirmed the governing body would revise the Disciplinary Code. The Belgian association also demanded guarantees that member associations could be heard in future disciplinary cases and requested assurances regarding a lack of external interference.
FIFA responded by stating that its judicial bodies make all decisions independently. Van Damme said, "FIFA’s confirmation that Article 27 will be amended, following the request we had already submitted in July, is an important step. The proposed amendment, together with an explanation of the specific circumstances of the Balogun case, will be submitted in Doha."
The RBFA requested that the Balogun case be included on the agenda for a Thursday Council meeting. A FIFA Council meeting occurred in Zurich on 15 October, while the proposed amendment is set for approval at a Doha meeting on 16 December.
