UEFA criticises Balogun red card U-turn after reported Donald Trump call to Gianni Infantino | OneFootball

World football has been left stunned after Folarin Balogun’s red card was overturned on the eve of United States v Belgium, scheduled for 02.00 in the last 16.

According to The New York Times, Donald Trump phoned FIFA president Gianni Infantino to prompt a review of the incident that led to the striker’s dismissal against Bosnia, and the ban was then lifted. Belgian officials objected first, while coach Rudi Garcia mocked the ruling by likening 5 July to an April Fools’ Day.

UEFA issued a statement on Monday calling the decision unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable, adding that a red line had been crossed and warning that the game’s integrity is at risk when the certainty of rules is not guaranteed by their guardians.

Balogun is the United States’ leading scorer, so his absence would not have been minor for Mauricio Pochettino’s side. The Belgian press has labelled the affair Balogun Gate.

Thomas Tuchel, asked after England’s meeting with Mexico about Jarell Quansah’s dismissal, wondered where the line now begins and ends, declining to suggest any political intervention. It is the first time FIFA has annulled a red card since 1962.

Belgium’s federation has launched an appeal ahead of the tie, with FIFA appointing a member of its appeals committee to assess the case. EU sports commissioner Glenn Micallef called FIFA’s intervention a wrong decision and urged politics to stay out of sport.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo