🎥 After Balogun verdict! Klopp slams Trump & Infantino | OneFootball

Following FIFA’s controversial decision in the Folarin Balogun case, Jürgen Klopp and Norway national team coach Stale Solbakken also voiced strong criticism of world football’s governing body. 

Incoming Germany coach Jürgen Klopp reacted with disbelief to the unprecedented background of the “Balogun case.” “If Trump and Infantino really sorted this out between themselves, that’s crazy, it calls everything into question,” said the 59-year-old, the German FA’s preferred candidate to succeed Julian Nagelsmann, on MagentaTV.

On Sunday, world football governing body FIFA suspended the ban on U.S. striker Folarin Balogun from the World Cup round-of-16 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina (2-0), putting it on probation. That means Balogun is eligible to play for the USA against Belgium in the Round of 16 on Monday evening (local time). According to AFP and The New York Times, U.S. President Donald Trump personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ask him to review the red card.

“There really aren’t two opinions about it. If that’s really what happened, there is still the possibility that the USA won’t play him anyway because they say, ‘We don’t want it like this,’” Klopp said. “We all suffer from wrong decisions. Even so, we all learn over the course of life to live with them. And this is simply a decision on a matter of fact.”

By contrast, Norway coach Stale Solbakken called it a “big mistake” by FIFA. It was “a bad, bad, bad decision that will harm the World Cup,” he said after Norway reached the quarterfinals against Brazil (2-1): “I also feel sorry for the USA. If they win, it will always hang in the balance. That’s not good for the sport.”

Solbakken believes the decision sets a dangerous precedent. “What about the next red card? What happens then? Will there be some kind of panel in the future that simply overturns such cards?” Solbakken asked.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 MAURO PIMENTEL - AFP or licensors