Not The First Red Card Reversal

By Olakunle Osisanya

The recent FIFA suspension of a red card issued to US striker Folarin Balogun during this 2026 World Cup has elicited widespread reactions.

While some find it justifiable, few others find it amusing while the rest have expressed loud dissatisfaction; more so, the large army of haters of US President Donald Trump, who they believe instigated the FIFA reversal.

For posterity sake, I believe that we owe it a duty to remind football fans that the Balogun red card suspension should not be made to look like the first case of suspension or reversal of red card in a major football tourney.

Avid African football followers may recall that at the semi finals of the 2013 AFCON hosted by South Africa, Jonathan Pitroipa of Burkina Faso vs Ghana was issued a second yellow for diving and sent off.

The Burkina Faso striker was the revelation of the tournament and the livewire of his team.

It is believed that the powers that be wanted to use the final match to showcase the best of African football to the world and also avoid a one-sided final match against Nigeria.

Consequently, CAF took the unusual step of reversing Pitroipa’s red card and he eventually played in the final.