Rio Ferdinand blasted for ‘nauseating’ reaction to Balogun red card U-turn

Rio Ferdinand has been strongly criticised for his reaction to FIFA overturning Folarin Balogun’s red card at the World Cup, with the Daily Mail’s Ian Herbert describing the former Manchester United defender’s celebration as “nauseating” and questioning whether it should end his broadcasting career.

Balogun, the USA forward, had his dismissal rescinded by football’s governing body following a review of the incident. Ferdinand marked the decision on social media with three clapping-hands emojis, a gesture that Herbert says singled the pundit out from almost everyone else outside America’s own supporters.

Backlash over Ferdinand’s response

According to the Daily Mail, Ferdinand’s celebration has been interpreted as him effectively acting as a mouthpiece for FIFA president Gianni Infantino, rather than offering the sort of independent analysis that once defined his reputation as a co-commentator and studio pundit.

Herbert notes that Ferdinand built his standing in the media through sharp technical insight, including early recognition of Declan Rice’s ability as a box-to-box midfielder, and detailed breakdowns of how defenders cope with high pressing. That reputation, the article argues, has now been undermined by his handling of the Balogun controversy.

Wider row over red card decisions

The rescinding of Balogun’s red card has become a flashpoint at this summer’s World Cup. US President Donald Trump had publicly criticised the match official who sent off the American striker, branding the referee “suspect” before FIFA’s reversal of the decision.

The episode has also fed into a separate row involving England defender Jarell Quansah, with the Daily Mail reporting that the Football Association is weighing up launching its own appeal against his World Cup ban. Arsenal forward Ian Wright is said to have made an appeal to Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the matter, highlighting growing frustration among English football figures at what they see as inconsistent officiating and refereeing standards at the tournament.

Questions over refereeing consistency

England manager Thomas Tuchel has already voiced concern about match officials during the World Cup, describing them as “erratic and unreliable” and warning that “questionable” VAR calls could cost his side at any stage of the competition.

With controversy continuing to swirl around FIFA’s handling of red card reviews, Ferdinand’s public reaction has become a lightning rod for wider unease about how consistently disciplinary decisions are being applied across different nations at the tournament.

Read more: Trump admits he lobbied Infantino to quash Balogun’s World Cup red card