UEFA has strongly criticised FIFA’s shock decision not to uphold Folarin Balogun’s automatic ban at this World Cup, calling it “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable”.
United States striker Balogun, who was sent off against Bosnia-Herzegovina, should have served a suspension for the last-16 tie against Belgium (Tuesday 01:00).
But World Cup organisers FIFA opted not to enforce an immediate sanction on the 25-year-old, meaning the co-hosts’ leading goalscorer will be available to play.
UEFA said intervening to effectively cancel a suspension at a tournament “crossed a red line”.
Of the 188 other red cards at the World Cup, only one other player has escaped a suspension—Brazil’s Garrincha in 1962, before automatic bans were in place and shrouded in allegations of political interference.
CBS News has confirmed that Balogun’s reinstatement came after US president Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Thursday and spoke about the suspension.
On Sunday, President Trump thanked FIFA for “reversing a great injustice”.
UEFA said an automatic suspension of one match “is not a discretionary option” and “a principle embedded in regulations”.
“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 a decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition.
“We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.”
EU Sport Commissioner Glenn Micallef said decisions on sport “belong to sporting bodies, not politicians”, warning against the “weaponisation of sport for political purposes”.
