UEFA slammed FIFA and described Balogun’s decision as ‘unprecedented, incomprehensible and unfair’

UEFA has criticized FIFA’s decision to suspend USA striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban, describing it as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unfair”.

Balogun was expected to miss Monday’s game against Belgium after being sent off in USA’s Round of 32 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina for a challenge on Tarik Muharemovic.

However, FIFA announced on Sunday that the 25-year-old’s one-game ban has been suspended for 12 months following the intervention of US president Donald Trump.

Trump, who is close to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, thanked FIFA for “redressing a great injustice” in his Truth Social post.

FIFA ‘crossed a red line’, says UEFA

UEFA took FIFA’s decision lightly and launched an unusual attack on the world governing body.

The statement reads: “Yesterday’s decision to suspend the one-year trial period is the initiation of an automatic one-match suspension following the red card awarded to player Folarin Balogun for crossing the red line.

“Football, like any other sport, depends on the rules, which are the basis of fair competition, honesty and transparency. Sometimes the rules are open to interpretation. In this case it is not. The automatic suspension of one game following a red card is not an optional option and does not require the decision of a competent organization to be suspended. It is a principle included in the rules, which cannot be released under several circumstances without the same competition between many players without the same games. and they always serve their suspension.

“When the certainty of the rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at risk and the integrity of the competition is undermined. Equally, this decision creates a precedent in the ongoing competition, where similar situations will need to be treated equally, which damages the competition.

“Football is the most popular game in the world because it is a good and trusted game because it is played everywhere with the same rules, the competition has never been pure and if the competition in question is the World Cup, it has the power to drive good or bad results in the game as a whole.

“We express our disbelief at the unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjust decision.”

Belgium manager Garcia thought Balogun’s decision was a joke

Belgium was upset by the decision taken and now they will have to adjust their tactics to be able to resist Balogun, who scored three goals for the United States in the World Cup.

“I didn’t know that in the World Cup, the 5th of July is actually the first of April – it’s April Fools,” said Red Devils coach Rudi Garcia yesterday.

The Belgian Football Association later issued a statement expressing its displeasure and confirmed that it was considering its options to respond to the decision.

Balogun, at the time of FIFA’s decision, was the 12th player to be sent off at the World Cup, but he was the only one to have his punishment reduced.

FIFA made an example of Ronaldo’s decision before the World Cup

This is not the first time FIFA has changed the rules regarding suspensions.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s three-game ban, which he received after being sent off for Portugal against the Republic of Ireland in the qualifiers, was reduced to one, which made the player play their World Cup group games.

Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo has also seen his suspension changed, however, and his promotion. Madibo was sent off against Canada for a challenge that broke Ismael Kone’s leg and FIFA increased the standard one-match suspension to five.