FIFA disciplinary chief defends Balogun ruling, says pausing red card effects is more balanced | OneFootball

FIFA’s disciplinary commission president has defended the decision that allows Folarin Balogun to face Belgium in the last 16, arguing that suspending the effects of a red card is the more balanced approach.

L'Équipe reports that the commission chief published a statement on FIFA’s website to explain the move under article 27 of the Disciplinary Code, after FIFA said on Sunday that the United States striker could play. It added that earlier in the day Donald Trump said he had asked Gianni Infantino to review the incident.

The statement stresses the commission’s independence, noting that presidents, vice-presidents and other judicial members meet the independence criteria set out in FIFA’s Governance Regulations to ensure impartiality.

It explains that the commission did not overturn Balogun’s dismissal, and confirmed a one-match suspension arising from the red card. It only examined whether to impose additional disciplinary measures, and may suspend any sanction’s application provided it is not linked to match manipulation, which was not the case.

As precedent under article 27, Cristiano Ronaldo initially received a three-match ban for an elbow to Dara O’Shea’s back in Portugal’s 2-0 defeat to Ireland in World Cup qualifying, but the final two matches were suspended for a one-year probation period.

The statement adds that legal reviews of red cards are not new, noting that in most top divisions of UEFA member associations, cancelling a red card is common and has not breached any red line. It reiterates that Balogun’s red card was not annulled, and says suspending its effects under an explicit rule is the more balanced measure.

Source: L'Équipe