UEFA: Balogun decision 'crossed a red line' | OneFootball

UEFA have responded to the decision to have Folarin Balogun's one-game suspension overturned, calling it a 'red line'.

Balogun was shown a straight red card in the USA's 2-0 win over Bosnia & Herzegovina which should have seen him miss the upcoming Round of 16 tie against Belgium.

However, FIFA decided to suspend that one-game ban for a year – a decision that appears to have been politically motivated to appease one of the host nations.

"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," a statement from UEFA said today.

"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."

The statement went on to point out that the decision creates a 'precedent' which will mean similar calls will require the same treatment which UEFA described as a 'detriment'.

"We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision," the statement concluded.