Neymar suggested he may have played his final match for Brazil after scoring in their defeat by Norway in ‌the World Cup round of 16 on Sunday.

The forward converted a stoppage-time penalty in Brazil’s 2-1 loss, a result that eliminated ​the five-time champions and extended their wait for ​a sixth World Cup title.

Speaking briefly after ⁠the match to Bruno Formiga, a pundit for Brazilian ​channel ge tv, Neymar indicated that his tenure with ​Brazil had come to an end.

“I tried, I tried … Now it’s over! I started here, I finished here,” Neymar said, ​referring to the stadium in New Jersey, where ​he made his Brazil debut in a friendly against the United ‌States in 2010.

The 34-year-old was moved to tears after the match. It was the national team’s worst World Cup performance since 1990.

Brazil are now heading towards their ​longest spell without ​a World ⁠Cup title since they first won the tournament. By 2030, they will have ​gone 28 years without lifting the trophy.

If ​Neymar ⁠confirms his international retirement, he will end his Brazil career with 80 goals and 58 assists in 130 ⁠appearances.

Neymar ​has won multiple titles at ​club level but his only senior trophy with Brazil was the 2013 ​Confederations Cup.

-Reuters

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, NEW YORK

Few provisions buried deep within FIFA’s legal framework have attracted as much attention as Article 27 of the governing body’s Disciplinary Code.

The rule, largely unfamiliar to football supporters until this week, suddenly became the centre of global debate after FIFA allowed United States’ Nigerian-rooted striker, Folarin Balogun, to play in this Monday’s FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash against the Belgium national football team despite receiving a red card in the previous match.

The decision has sparked controversy across the football world, with supporters, administrators and legal experts asking a simple question: How can a player sent off in one match be eligible to play in the next?

The answer lies in Article 27.

Folarin Balogun, the striker at the centre of a World Cup storm after FIFA suspended the implementation of his red-card ban, is cleared to face Belgium in the Round of 16.

 

What Exactly Is Article 27?

Article 27 of FIFA’s Disciplinary Code gives FIFA’s judicial bodies the power to suspend the implementation of a disciplinary sanction.

In simple terms, the punishment remains valid, but its enforcement can be postponed.

That means the sanction is not cancelled, overturned or erased. Instead, FIFA can decide that it does not need to be served immediately.

This is precisely what happened in Balogun’s case.

After the striker was sent off during the United States’ 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, he automatically became subject to a one-match suspension under FIFA regulations. However, FIFA later announced that, under Article 27, the implementation of that suspension would be suspended for a probationary period of one year.

As a result, Balogun is free to face Belgium, although the original punishment remains hanging over him.

A Legal Safety Net, Not An Acquittal

One of the most misunderstood aspects of Article 27 is that it does not amount to an acquittal.

Balogun’s red card still stands.

FIFA has not rescinded the dismissal, overturned the referee’s decision or declared the player innocent of wrongdoing. Instead, it has chosen not to enforce the accompanying suspension immediately.

Should Balogun commit another offence of a similar nature during the one-year probationary period, the suspended sanction would automatically be reactivated. He would then serve the original suspension in addition to any new punishment imposed for the fresh offence.

In legal terms, it functions much like a suspended sentence in many judicial systems.

How Much Discretion Does FIFA Have?

Perhaps the most contentious aspect of Article 27 is what it does not say.

While the rule clearly empowers FIFA’s judicial bodies to suspend disciplinary sanctions, it does not specify the circumstances under which such discretion should be exercised.

There is no published checklist outlining when a sanction should be suspended, nor any detailed criteria defining what constitutes an exceptional case.

That ambiguity has become central to the controversy surrounding Balogun’s reprieve.

Critics argue that the absence of clearly defined conditions leaves significant room for interpretation, while supporters contend that flexibility allows FIFA to address cases where strict application of the rules might produce an unfair outcome.

Who Makes These Decisions?

The authority to apply Article 27 rests with FIFA’s judicial bodies, primarily the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and the FIFA Appeal Committee.

The Disciplinary Committee consists of a chairperson, deputy chairperson and additional members. Both the chairperson and deputy chairperson must be qualified lawyers.

For a decision to be valid, at least three committee members must participate in the deliberations.

The committee is currently chaired by Mohammad Al Kamali of the United Arab Emirates.

Members are elected by the FIFA Congress for four-year terms and may serve a maximum of three terms.

Mohammad Al Kamali of the United Arab Emirates (right), chairman of FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, whose application of Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code placed the Folarin Balogun suspension controversy at the centre of World Cup debate

 

A Rule With History

Although Article 27 has become a headline-maker during the 2026 World Cup, the provision is not new.

The rule existed as Article 26 before FIFA revised its Disciplinary Code in 2019. Following further amendments in 2023, it was renumbered as Article 27.

Its core principle, however, has remained unchanged: FIFA’s judicial bodies retain the power to suspend the implementation of certain sanctions when they deem it appropriate.

Notably, one category of offence remains exempt from such leniency. Sanctions relating to match manipulation cannot be suspended under Article 27, reflecting FIFA’s determination to protect the integrity of competition.

Why The Debate Is Unlikely To End

Balogun’s case has transformed an obscure legal provision into one of the defining talking points of the World Cup.

For supporters of the United States, Article 27 has provided a lifeline, ensuring one of the team’s key attacking players remains available for a crucial knockout match.

For critics, including officials in Belgium, the decision has raised broader questions about consistency, transparency and the scope of FIFA’s discretionary powers.

Whatever the outcome of Monday’s encounter, Article 27 has emerged from the shadows of FIFA’s rulebook and into the global spotlight, demonstrating how a single clause in a legal document can shape the course of football’s biggest tournament.

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Cape Verde’s soccer squad were given a heroes’ welcome by thousands of fans when they returned home on ​Sunday after a fairytale run at the World Cup ‌that ended in a 3-2 defeat by Argentina in the round of 32.

Hundreds of flag-waving fans were waiting at the airport to greet the ​players when they landed in the nation’s capital, Praia, ​and more lined the streets as they made their ⁠way to Quebra Canela beach on an open-top truck for ​a homecoming celebration.

July 5 is Cape Verde’s Independence Day, and ​there was a holiday atmosphere as the Blue Sharks and their charismatic coach Bubista danced to pumping music on a stage in front of a ​sign reading “Obrigado! Cabo Verde”.  Sports Village Square recalls that the English translation of the Portuguese expression is “Thank You! Cape Verde”

“What’s up, Praia!” goalkeeper and social media ​sensation Vozinha shouted through a microphone to huge cheers.

A collection of 10 ‌volcanic ⁠islands with a population of some 500,000 off the coast of West Africa, Cape Verde did not play a World Cup qualifier until the start of the century and were ranked 67th ​in the world ​coming into ⁠this year’s tournament.

They stunned the football world by holding two former champions, Spain and Uruguay, to ​draws in the opening round and became the ​least ⁠populous nation to reach the knockout stages of a World Cup.

They cemented their place in the hearts of football fans around the ⁠world ​with a fearless display of defiance against ​reigning champions Argentina in Miami last Friday, going down 3-2 after extra time ​in a pulsating match.

Reuters

 

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