- UEFA warns of consequences for the sport as a whole.
- Belgium shocked by refereeing Balogun’s red card.
- Rules in this matter not open to interpretation: Uefa.
Fifa “crossed a red line” with the controversial decision to suspend American star Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban for one year, European soccer’s governing body Uefa said on Monday.
Fifa’s ruling, which came after Donald Trump’s intervention, allows Balogun to play in the co-hosts’ World Cup round of 16 match with Belgium later on Monday.
“Yesterday’s decision to suspend for a trial period of one year the implementation of the automatic one-match ban following the red card issued to the player Folarin Balogun crossed a red line,” read Uefa’s strongly worded statement.
“Football, like any other sport, relies on rules which are the foundation of fair, honest and transparent competition. Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. Not in this case.”
Uefa warned of the consequences for the sport as a whole.
“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,” it said.
“A tournament is never a pure standalone, and if that tournament is the World Cup, it has the power to create positive or negative consequences for the game as a whole.
“We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustified decision.”
Balogun, who has scored three goals at the World Cup, was set to miss the clash in Seattle after receiving a straight red card following a video review for stepping on the foot of a Bosnia and Herzegovina defender in the round of 16, which the USA won 2-0.
According to Fifa rules, a straight red card automatically triggers a one-game suspension.
Trump called Fifa chief Gianni Infantino and asked him to review Balogun’s punishment, two sources familiar with the matter told AFP.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also publicly called for the card to be revoked.
The decision to suspend the ban was made by Fifa’s disciplinary committee.
World football’s governing body said on Sunday that the ban will now be suspended for a year, in a stunning move for which no specific explanation was given.
“Thank you to Fifa for doing the right thing and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The Belgians were confused by the verdict.
“I didn’t know that at the FIFA World Cup July 5 is now April 1 and that it’s April Fools,” Belgium coach Rudi Garcia told reporters.
