What is Article 27 of FIFA's Disciplinary Code that allows red-carded Balogun to play?
- By Reuters -
- Jul 06, 2026

AA
ResizeMIAMI: FIFA will allow United States striker Folarin Balogun to play in their World Cup last-16 clash with Belgium on Monday after suspending his ban for a red card in the previous round, citing Article 27 of the world’s ruling body’s Disciplinary Code.
Following is an explanation of what Article 27 is:
-
Article 27 allows FIFA to suspend the implementation of a disciplinary sanction.
-
The sanction itself remains in force but does not have to be served immediately unless the suspension is later revoked.
-
The article allows FIFA’s judicial bodies to suspend the implementation of all or part of a disciplinary sanction.
-
However, the code does not mention the circumstances in which a judicial body may decide to suspend a sanction.
-
FIFA’s judicial bodies include the Disciplinary Committee and the Appeal Committee.
-
The sanctioned player is then placed on a probationary period of between one and four years.
-
If the player commits another infringement of a similar nature during the probationary period, the suspended sanction is automatically reactivated in addition to any new disciplinary sanction.
-
Balogun’s match ban was suspended for a probationary period of one year.
-
The only disciplinary measures that cannot be suspended are those related to match manipulation.
-
The Disciplinary Committee is composed of a chairperson, a deputy chairperson and additional members. The chairperson and deputy chairperson must be qualified lawyers.
-
The Committee takes its decisions in the presence of at least three members.
-
Mohammad Al Kamali of the United Arab Emirates is currently the chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee.
-
Committee members are elected by the FIFA Congress for terms lasting four years and for a maximum of three terms.
-
Article 27 was previously Article 26 when the Disciplinary Code was updated in 2019. It became Article 27 in 2023.
