UEFA has hit out at FIFA after the world governing body lifted the automatic one-game ban issued to United States forward Folarin Balogun for a red card, a move that now keeps him eligible for the USMNT\u2019s World Cup Round of 16 meeting with Belgium.<\/p>\n
Balogun entered the tournament as the leading scorer for the United States with three goals, but he was sent off with a straight red for a challenge on Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic during the Americans\u2019 2-0 Round of 32 win.<\/p>\n
Despite that dismissal, FIFA said on Sunday that the automatic one-match suspension would be put in abeyance for the next year, using a clause that permits certain punishments to be suspended.<\/p>\n
The ruling sparked anger in European football\u2019s governing body.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision,\u201d UEFA said in a statement.<\/p>\n
UEFA added: \u201cYesterday\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
UEFA argued FIFA\u2019s action risked damaging the tournament\u2019s credibility by creating an exception during the World Cup itself.<\/p>\n
\u201cFootball, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition,\u201d the governing body continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined.<\/p>\n
\u201cEqually, such decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Across the Atlantic, United States President Donald Trump welcomed the change, posting on Truth Social that he was grateful to FIFA for reversing what he called a major injustice.<\/p>\n
The United States face Belgium in the Round of 16 on Monday, with Balogun available for selection after FIFA\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UEFA has hit out at FIFA after the world governing body lifted the automatic one-game ban issued to United States forward Folarin Balogun for a red card, a move that now keeps him eligible for the USMNT\u2019s World Cup Round of 16 meeting with Belgium. Balogun entered the tournament as the leading scorer for the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2765,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"UEFA Criticizes FIFA After Balogun Ban Reversal vs Belgium","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"UEFA fires back at FIFA after Balogun\u2019s ban reversal keeps the US forward available for the World Cup Round of 16 clash with Belgi","mma_seo_breadcrumb_text":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_url":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_hide_ui":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_labels":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2766","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n