FIFA and UEFA are at loggerheads over suspending the red card ban of American footballer Folarin Balogun. FIFA took this decision after the intervention of Donald Trump, whom UEFA has accused of compromising the integrity of the game.
Washington DC [यूएस]July 6 (ANI): UEFA has strongly criticized FIFA’s decision to suspend the World Cup red-card ban imposed on American striker Folarin Balogun following the intervention of US President Donald Trump. Trump had urged the organization to review the matter. UEFA said that FIFA had “crossed a line” and compromised the integrity of the game.
FIFA announced that Balogun’s automatic one-match suspension had been suspended under Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. In its statement, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee said, “By operation of Article 27 FDC, the implementation of the automatic match suspension for American player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year.”
UEFA’s tough stance on FIFA’s decision
“Yesterday’s decision to suspend for a probationary period of one year the implementation of the automatic one-match suspension following a red card issued to player Folarin Balogun crossed a line. Football, like any other sport, relies on rules, which are the basis of fair, honest and transparent competition. Sometimes the rules can be interpreted. In this case, there is no automatic minimum one-match suspension following a red card,” UEFA wrote in a statement. Suspension is not a discretionary option and does not require a decision by a competent body to be implemented. It is a principle enshrined in the rules, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, especially in the middle of a tournament where many other players have been in the same situation and have regularly served their suspensions.”
The statement further said, “When the certainty of the rules is no longer guaranteed by its patrons, the integrity of the game is at stake, and the credibility of a competition is weakened. Likewise, such a decision sets a precedent in ongoing tournaments, where similar behavior would now be required in similar situations, which is detrimental to the competition. Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because it is played with the same laws everywhere. A tournament can never be completely is not isolated, and if the tournament in question is the World Cup, it has the power to have positive or negative consequences on the game as a whole. We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unfair decision.”
Decision changed after Trump’s intervention
Fox News reported that Trump had contacted Infantino after Balogun was sent off in the United States’ Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The report said FIFA reviewed the case before clearing the 25-year-old forward to play in Monday’s round of 16 clash against Belgium. Balogun received a red card in the 64th minute of the USA’s 2–0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, but he had already played a key role in the Americans’ campaign, scoring three goals during the tournament.
Following FIFA’s decision, Trump publicly welcomed the result on Truth Social, writing, “Thank you FIFA for doing the right thing and overturning a huge injustice! President Donald J. Trump.” (ANI)
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