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UEFA said FIFA “crossed a red line” and “put the integrity of the game at risk” by allowing USA striker Folarin Balogun to play in their World Cup tie against Belgium on Tuesday.
Balogun, who has scored three times this World Cup, was sent off after scoring the opener in the USA’s last-32 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina when he caught Tarik Muharremovic with his studs in a challenge.
He was given a one-match ban and will miss Tuesday’s knockout game against Belgium.
But FIFA stepped in to make Balogun available for the match.
The White House made a call to FIFA to review the red card for president Gianni Infantino, a person familiar with the call said on condition of anonymity. Associated Press.
In a statement, UEFA said: “Yesterday’s decision to suspend for a one-year probationary period by implementing an automatic one-match suspension crosses a red line for the red card issued to player Folarin Balogun.
“Football, like any other sport, depends on the rules, which are the basis of fair, honest and transparent competition. Sometimes the rules are open to interpretation. Not in this case. The minimum automatic suspension of a match after a red card is not a prudent option and it does not require the execution of a decision of a competent body. It is a principle that cannot be included only in intermediate matters, which can be included in the policy. Of a tournament where several other players were in the same situation and regularly suffer their suspension.
“When the rules are no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at risk and the credibility of a competition is undermined. Equally, such a decision sets a precedent in ongoing tournaments, where similar situations would now require equal treatment to the detriment of competition.
“Football is the world’s favorite sport because it is a beautiful game and faithful because it is played everywhere with the same rules. A tournament is never a pure individual and, if the tournament in question is the World Cup, it has the power to drive positive or negative consequences to the game as a whole.
“We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unreasonable decision.”
The Belgian FA said it was “surprised” by the decision and would “investigate all possible options”.
More to follow…
