Sport

Trump intervention sparks World Cup storm as FIFA clears Balogun to face Belgium

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it was “astonished” by FIFA’s decision to declare Balogun eligible to play in the ⁠match, pointing to the rule book while it investigated all potential options.

Published

2 months ago

July 6, 2026

Ariana News

The United States’ World Cup campaign took an extraordinary turn on Sunday when FIFA made the unprecedented decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s automatic red-card ban, clearing the striker to face Belgium in Monday’s last-16 clash after U.S. President Donald Trump personally urged FIFA President Gianni ‌Infantino to review the case.

The move thrust FIFA’s disciplinary process into the global spotlight, prompted an angry response from Belgium and ensured that one of this tournament’s biggest talking points would centre not on tactics or team selection, but on the relationship between football’s governing body and political power, Reuters reported.

What is Article 27 of FIFA’s Disciplinary Code that allows red-carded Balogun to play?

Within minutes, the decision had ignited one of the tournament’s biggest media storms, dominating sports bulletins and talk shows as pundits, commentators and former players argued over whether FIFA had upheld justice or undermined its own rules.

As questions mounted over the circumstances surrounding the decision, FIFA did not respond to multiple Reuters requests for comment about the decision and Trump’s call with Infantino.

Balogun scored his third goal of the World Cup in the 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina but was shown a red card in the second half for planting his ⁠boot into the ankle of Tarik Muharemovic.

The 25-year-old was sent off after a VAR review, with U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino saying it was never a red card offence.

Trump called Infantino to ask world soccer’s governing body to review the sending-off, according to a source briefed on the call.

FIFA is allowing Balogun to play without rescinding the red card.

“In line with article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,” FIFA said in a statement.

“If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”

The judicial body has the discretion to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary sanction.

‘A GREAT INJUSTICE’

“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice,” Trump wrote on Truth Social while the White House celebrated Balogun’s reinstatement in the squad with a post on X saying: “USA-USA-USA.”

U.S. Soccer accepted the decision while Balogun’s teammates said they only found out via social media on their way to training ahead of Monday’s game in Seattle.

“We found out about it just coming over here,” American forward Christian Pulisic told reporters. “At first, you’re like, ‘Oh really, is this real?’ And then ‘Oh, this ‌is great news’.”

Pochettino ⁠welcomed the news at a U.S. press conference in Seattle on Sunday evening.

“I think 99.9% of people in football have said this is an unfair punishment and there’s evidence from the past that makes it possible to suspend a punishment and to fulfil it later on, so I don’t understand how people can be surprised,” he told reporters.

“This has happened in the past. It’s not something extraordinary that has only happened for us, it has happened in the past. And we’ve seen many players in this World Cup that were not punished and I’m happy for this because it would have been unfair.”

BELGIUM ‘ASTONISHED’ BY DECISION

“FIFA bases its decision on Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. This provision states that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may decide to suspend the enforcement of a previously imposed disciplinary sanction,” the RBFA said.

“However, Article 66.4 of the same FIFA Disciplinary Code clearly provides that a red card (sending-off) automatically results in a suspension for the team’s next match, as has been the case for all previous red cards issued during ⁠this FIFA World Cup.”

It said the decision was in direct contradiction with the provisions of the tournament’s Regulations.

“As set out in Article 10.5: ‘If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card (second caution), they will automatically be suspended from their team’s subsequent match,'” the RBFA added.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo was able to play his side’s opening World Cup matches after FIFA suspended the final two games of ⁠a three-match ban last year when he was sent off in their penultimate qualifying match against Ireland.

Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo was handed a five-match ban after receiving a red card for a tackle that seriously injured Canada midfielder Ismael Kone during a group match at the tournament.

Monday’s match will now be played against the backdrop of a decision that has become one of the defining controversies of the tournament, with the debate over FIFA’s powers unlikely to end at the final whistle.

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Abaseen Defenders clinch Khan Hospital Kabul Premier League Season 4 title

Ariana Television previously produced and broadcast the first, second and third seasons of the Kabul Premier League and continues to bring major domestic and international sporting events to audiences across Afghanistan.

Published

11 hours ago

August 21, 2026

Ariana News

Abaseen Defenders were crowned champions of the Khan Hospital Kabul Premier League Season 4 after a commanding 63-run victory over Kabul Zalmi in the final at Ayobi Cricket Stadium in Kabul on Friday.

After winning the toss, Abaseen Defenders opted to bat first and posted a formidable 213 for seven in their 20 overs, setting Kabul Zalmi a target of 214 runs.

Kabul Zalmi struggled in the chase and were bowled out for 150 in 17.2 overs, handing Abaseen Defenders a comprehensive 63-run victory and the championship trophy.

The fourth season of the Khan Hospital Kabul Premier League began on August 10 at Ayobi Cricket Stadium in Kabul and concluded on August 21 with Abaseen Defenders lifting the title.

Six teams—Pamir Stars, Shamshad Eagles, Kabul Zalmi, Spin Ghar Warriors, Abaseen Defenders and Band-e-Amir—competed for the championship in this season.

The tournament provided a valuable platform for Afghan domestic cricketers to compete at a higher level, gain experience and showcase their skills.

All matches of Season 4 were broadcast exclusively by Ariana Television, giving cricket fans across Afghanistan the opportunity to follow the action throughout the tournament.

Sport

ATN to broadcast five Carabao Cup clashes live in Afghanistan

Published

1 day ago

August 20, 2026

Ariana News

Ariana Television Network (ATN) will provide live coverage of five highly anticipated Carabao Cup second-round matches, with the network holding exclusive broadcast rights for the fixtures in Afghanistan.

The 2026/27 Carabao Cup second round takes place during the week of August 24, with several Premier League sides facing lower-league opposition. The official draw confirmed Chelsea will host Luton Town, Tottenham Hotspur will welcome Charlton Athletic, while Newcastle United will face West Bromwich Albion.

ATN’s live coverage will include:

Watford vs Peterborough United — August 25 at 11:15pm Kabul time
Southampton vs West Ham United — August 25, kick-off time to be confirmed
Tottenham Hotspur vs Charlton Athletic — August 26 at 11:15pm Kabul time
Newcastle United vs West Bromwich Albion — August 26, kick-off time to be confirmed
Chelsea vs Luton Town — August 27 at 11:00pm Kabul time

The fixtures bring together teams from the Premier League, Championship and League One, offering Afghan football fans the opportunity to watch a number of England’s best-known clubs in knockout action.

Chelsea’s home tie against Luton will mark the club’s opening match of this season’s Carabao Cup campaign, while Tottenham will host Charlton in another London clash.

Newcastle, the 2025 Carabao Cup champions, will begin their title campaign against West Bromwich Albion, while Southampton will meet West Ham United in another all-Championship clash. The full second-round draw also includes Watford against Peterborough.

ATN will bring the matches live to viewers across Afghanistan as part of its continued coverage of major international football competitions.

Football fans can follow Ariana Television Network’s platforms for updates on kick-off times, match coverage and broadcast details.

Sport

Humanoid robots face tougher football challenge at World Robot Games

This year’s competition features football and table tennis. In medium-sized robot football, teams have expanded from three players to five, while the pitch is almost twice the size of those used last year.

Published

3 days ago

August 19, 2026

Ariana News

Humanoid robots are set to face a tougher football challenge at the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, with larger playing fields, more teams and improved technology testing the limits of the machines.

The qualifying round began on August 11, with the matches also serving as a technical test ahead of the main event, which opens on August 22.

The games, jointly hosted by the Beijing municipal government and China Media Group, are the world’s first multi-sport competition dedicated to humanoid robots.

The inaugural event in 2025 attracted 280 teams from 16 countries, with more than 500 robots taking part.

The larger field is expected to test the robots’ ability to perceive their surroundings, track their position and navigate in real time.

Under the rules, the robots must operate autonomously without direct human control. The larger playing area reduces their effective scanning range and increases the risk of positioning errors as matches become more competitive.

To compensate, some teams have programmed their robots to turn their heads more frequently to scan the field and identify reference points.

“When the robot scores a goal or performs a goal kick, an indirect or direct free kick, it will turn its head to re-search for feature points,” said Cheng Junming, a participant from Beijing Information Science and Technology University.

He said the technique provides a second form of positioning to help correct the robot’s location.

The robots have also been designed to move in increasingly human-like ways, reflecting advances in both performance and entertainment.

Teams are using reinforcement learning to train robots to control and dribble the ball, while depth cameras help them detect the ball and establish its position relative to the robot.

These developments are allowing the machines to move with greater coordination and play football in a way that more closely resembles human players, Cheng said.