UEFA has strongly criticised FIFA after the world football governing body overturned the automatic suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun following his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina
Balogun was initially set to miss the United States’ Round of 32 clash with Belgium after being sent off in the previous match. However, FIFA announced on Sunday that the striker would be eligible to play.
The decision reportedly came after United States President Donald Trump held a phone conversation with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
In a statement released on Monday, UEFA described FIFA’s action as a dangerous precedent that undermines the integrity of football.
“Yesterday’s decision to suspend for a probationary period of a year the implementation of the one-match automatic suspension following the red card issued to the player Folarin Balogun crossed a red line.
“Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition. Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not.
“A minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted.
“It is a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension.
“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.
“Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because it is played everywhere with the same laws.
“A tournament is never a pure standalone and, if the tournament in question is the World Cup, it has the power to drive positive or negative consequences on the game as a whole.
“We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.”
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