Football greats and fans have been left in utter shock after FIFA suspended USA forward Folarin Balogun’s red card to allow him to play against Belgium in the Round of 16. This comes as USA President Donald Trump praised the decision from FIFA ahead of the elimination game at the FIFA World Cup.
In one of the most controversial calls in World Cup history, FIFA has suspended Balogun’s red card he received in the 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. While the red card divided fans, Balogun was set to be suspended for the next game as per the rules and the decision can not be appealed.
FIFA ahs suspended USA forward Folarin Balogun’s red card to allow him to play against Belgium with President Donald Trump (pictured middle) praising the decision. (Images: Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
However, FIFA has taken it upon themselves to suspend the decision to allow the USA star to play against Belgium in the knockout game. This is remarkable considering FIFA has not intervened in decisions like this in previous World Cups since the yellow and red cars were introduced in 1970.
And President Trump took to Truth Social to praise the organisation for stepping in. “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
But the decision has not sat well with fans around the world. Manchester United and England great Garry Neville said there was something wrong about how this process took place.
“It absolutely stinks,” Neville said on ITV. “Let’s be really clear. But what I would say is the thing that stinks the most is there should be a review process in place. I actually didn’t think it was a red card, and I think there should be a process which allows it to be overturned. But if there’s no process for it to be overturned, and then somehow Fifa from nowhere have just decided to basically let a player play, and the rules [should be] the same for everybody.
“I would be absolutely raging if I was Belgium, and every other team in the tournament that’s had a player sent off that might think it’s been a little bit hard done to. And do you know something, are we surprised? No, not with this lot.”
Fans ripped into the decision and felt it set a horrible precedent going forward. Others claimed it will ‘taint’ any achievement by the USA team if they go on to win the game against Belgium.
Belgium FA fume over suspended red card
While fans around the world have been left in disbelief, so has the Belgium FA. The nation’s governing body released a statement claiming it was ‘astonished’ at the decision and would explore their options.
“In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options,” the statement read.
Folarin Balogun (pictured) will be free to play against Belgium after FIFA suspended his red card. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)