FIFA ‘crossed a red line’ over Balogun World Cup | Sports News

FIFA faces extreme criticism after UEFA accused the group of ‘crossing a red line’ within the wake of Donald Trump’s purported involvement in reversing Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban.

“Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition. Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not. A minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted.

“It is a precept embedded in rules, which can’t be made subject to exceptions, not to mention within the center of a match the place a number of different gamers have been in the identical state of affairs and commonly served their suspension.

“When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined. Equally, such decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition.”

“Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because it is played everywhere with the same laws. A tournament is never a pure standalone and, if the tournament in question is the World Cup, it has the power to drive positive or negative consequences on the game as a whole.

“We categorical our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable determination.”

Folarin Balogun was shown a red card during the USMNT’s 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup Round of 32, after a VAR review determined his challenge on Tarik Muharemovic amounted to serious foul play.

Referee Raphael Claus initially waved play on before reversing his decision and issuing a straight red card for the incident, in which Balogun’s boot made contact with the defender’s ankle and calf.

The dismissal carried an automatic one-match ban under Article 10.5 of FIFA’s tournament regulations. In an extraordinary move, however, FIFA officials opted to suspend the sanction, clearing Balogun to feature in the United States’ Round of 16 showdown with Belgium.

The ruling was made under Article 27 of FIFA’s Disciplinary Code, which permits the “full or partial suspension” of disciplinary measures. Consequently, Balogun’s punishment has been deferred underneath a one-year probationary situation, that means he’ll escape the ban as long as he avoids committing a comparable offense within the subsequent 12 months.