UEFA angered by FIFA decision on Folarin Balogun, but will not escalate | OneFootball

UEFA has hit out at FIFA’s decision to lift the immediate suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun after his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup last 32, saying football relies on clear rules, that an automatic one-match ban after a red card is not discretionary and requires no separate ruling, and that there should be no exceptions mid-tournament given several other players have served suspensions.

Balogun was sent off for a studs-first challenge to defender Tarik Muharemovic’s ankle on Wednesday in a tie the United States won 2-0.

UEFA also aligned itself with the Belgian federation, one of its member associations.

Despite its protest, UEFA will not take the matter further and will not move to oppose Gianni Infantino’s upcoming bid for re-election as FIFA president.

Relations between Infantino and UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, once frosty amid disputes over a biennial World Cup and plans for an annual Club World Cup, have since warmed, with both seeking to avoid unnecessary flashpoints.

Infantino has said he will seek another term in the coming months, and European federations, in principle, will not act to thwart his plans.

Source: L'Équipe