UEFA condemns FIFA decision to lift Folarin Balogun ban | OneFootball

UEFA has condemned FIFA’s decision to lift Folarin Balogun’s ban, allowing the American forward to face Belgium in the World Cup last 16 despite his red card in the previous match. UEFA said in a statement that the move crosses a red line.

FIFA has suspended, on a probationary basis for one year, the application of the automatic one-match suspension that follows a red card. That ruling means Balogun is eligible for the knockout tie.

The statement argued that football rests on rules underpinning fair, honest and transparent competition. It stressed that an automatic one-match ban after a red card is not discretionary and does not require any further decision to take effect.

It added that this principle is written into the regulations and should not be subject to exceptions, especially mid-tournament, while several other players in the same situation have served suspensions without issue. The organisation backed the Belgian federation, which has appealed FIFA’s decision.

The approach threatens the integrity of the game and the credibility of the competition. It sets a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar cases would now require identical treatment to the detriment of the contest. The statement closed by calling the decision unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.

Source: L'Équipe