Folarin Balogun was allowed to play in the World Cup round of 16 despite receiving a red card. The case is still causing a stir. According to a report, FIFA intends to handle automatic suspensions differently in future.
According to a media report, FIFA intends to amend its disciplinary code to prevent a repeat of the controversy surrounding US striker Folarin Balogun at the World Cup. A proposal to this effect is to be presented to the FIFA Council today at its first meeting since the World Cup in Zurich, according to a report by The Athletic.
The aim, it is reported, is to ensure that automatic one-match suspensions can no longer be suspended. This is intended to improve the predictability of eligibility for professional players and to protect the integrity of competitions. FIFA has been asked for a comment.
Trump’s phone call, Infantino’s denial
US striker Balogun was shown a red card in the round of 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina (2–0) and was therefore automatically suspended for the round of 16 match against Belgium. However, FIFA surprisingly lifted the suspension following a phone call from US President Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino – although, according to the world governing body, it was the formally independent Disciplinary Committee that made this decision.
Trump’s words, however, suggested a personal intervention by Infantino. The Swiss official himself denied having been involved in the decision. The US team ultimately lost 1–4 to Belgium, despite Balogun’s participation, and were knocked out of the tournament. UEFA described the lifting of the suspension as “incomprehensible” and as “crossing a red line”.
Criticism from within the organisation
According to information from The Athletic, unnamed sources close to FIFA Council members have now criticised the fact that the exact wording of the proposal was only communicated on Tuesday evening – less than 48 hours before the meeting. According to the report, they viewed this as an attempt to push through a rule change at short notice and to resolve the controversy surrounding Balogun’s suspended ban.
In their view, the existing rules had been clear to most of those involved. Only the decision to allow Balogun to play in the round of 16 despite his red card had required some fine-tuning.
