The independent Group of Copenhagen, a dedicated gambling watchdog, is currently investigating up to seven matches from the recent World Cup due to irregular betting activities. One notable match under scrutiny is the United States’ last-16 defeat to Belgium.
The Athletic highlights that the investigation points to a specific betting line: “Will Folarin Balogun play against Belgium?” This line emerged shortly after Balogun received a controversial red card during the USA’s Round-of-32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Just three days later, President Donald Trump urged FIFA to overturn Balogun’s red card, leading the governing body to suspend his one-game ban until after the tournament. This decision allowed him to participate in the match against Belgium.
The Group of Copenhagen’s findings reveal that no similar betting markets were created for the other 14 players who received red cards during the tournament. As a result, the organization is now seeking an official explanation from FIFA regarding the Balogun situation.
The group thoroughly reviewed all 104 matches from the tournament, which saw an impressive $240 billion in bets placed globally. Although the full report is still forthcoming, a summary of the key conclusions has already been shared by the Council of Europe.
