Trust Under Pressure at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

By Matheus Jaime, PhD


Football has always been more than a game of talent and tactics. Its legitimacy depends on something less visible but far more important: trust. Players, coaches, clubs and supporters accept victories and defeats because they believe that the same rules apply equally to everyone. When that confidence is weakened, the integrity of competition itself is placed at risk.

The controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun's eligibility after receiving a red card has become one of the defining governance debates of this FIFA World Cup. According to Article 10.5 of the FIFA World Cup Regulations, a red card results in an automatic suspension for the following match. Similar situations throughout the tournament were handled accordingly, making the decision to allow Balogun to play appear inconsistent with the competition's own regulatory framework.

The central issue, however, extends far beyond one player or one match. Sporting institutions derive their authority from the consistent, transparent and predictable application of their own rules. When exceptions appear to emerge outside the ordinary regulatory framework, institutional credibility inevitably comes under scrutiny.

Reports suggesting political pressure surrounding the Balogun case have already generated widespread discussion. More recently, reporting by The Times indicated that the decision to overturn Balogun's automatic suspension was taken by the Chair of FIFA's Disciplinary Committee, Mohammad Al Kamali, without consultation with the committee's remaining members. Regardless of the final assessment of that decision, such reports raise important questions about transparency, collective decision-making and accountability within one of the world's most influential sporting institutions.

Nor has the Balogun case been an isolated controversy. Throughout the World Cup, several episodes have fueled broader discussions about governance and institutional consistency. Switzerland publicly questioned the dismissal of Breel Embolo following a VAR review under one of the tournament's new protocols, calling for greater transparency in FIFA's decision-making process. At the same time, contrasting applications of the ball-tracking technology in the Portugal–Croatia and England–Norway matches have prompted debate over the consistent use of technological tools in elite competition. While each incident has its own context, together they reinforce a common concern: accountability in sport depends not only on correct decisions, but also on transparent processes and consistent standards.

Perhaps the greatest concern is the precedent these episodes create. Every sporting system depends on predictability. Rules are respected because athletes, coaches and supporters believe they will be applied consistently and independently. Once exceptions become precedents, restoring confidence becomes significantly more difficult. The strength of sport lies precisely in the principle that the rules are greater than the individuals, teams or institutions involved.

As a football coach and researcher, I have dedicated most of my professional career to the development of young high-performance football players. Throughout this journey, one principle has guided my work: success must be connected to merit, effort and respect for the process.

I have always been inspired by a reflection attributed to the Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa. He compares life and sport to crossing a garden: the person who cuts across the grass and avoids the 90-degree path arrives sooner, but only by stepping on the flowers. The one who follows the proper path takes longer, yet preserves the garden. For me, this perfectly captures one of sport's fundamental values. Achieving success matters, but how that success is achieved matters even more.

This is why governance matters far beyond boardrooms and disciplinary committees. Football's governing institutions do more than organize competitions – they shape the values that future generations of athletes inherit. When young players see shortcuts rewarded or rules applied inconsistently, the lesson extends well beyond a single result. It influences how they understand merit, fairness and respect for the game itself.

This discussion is particularly significant in Switzerland. As the home of FIFA, UEFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the country occupies a unique position in global sports governance. These institutions have helped establish Switzerland as an international reference for neutrality, legal certainty and institutional integrity. For that reason, decisions perceived as inconsistent or insufficiently transparent affect not only individual matches, but also public confidence in the organizations responsible for protecting football's credibility.

Football will never be free from controversy. Referees will make mistakes, new technologies will continue to evolve and difficult disciplinary decisions will remain part of the game. What ultimately sustains football, however, is the collective belief that its institutions are committed to fairness, transparency and accountability. If we expect future generations to value merit, integrity and respect for the rules, those same principles must first be upheld by the institutions entrusted with governing the world's game.