By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: FIFA.
President Donald Trump on Sunday cheered FIFA’s decision to reverse a one-game suspension of U.S Men’s National Team striker Folarin Balogun.
Fullview understands the White House lobbied Fifa to lift Balogun’s one-game ban for a red card received in the team’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was among those who had demanded the decision be reviewed.
Asked about the USA’s World Cup performance during a news conference, Rubio said: “It was great. They got screwed with that red card.
“There needs to be an appeal process for that. It’s probably not too late for that.”
The decision gives the US a huge boost on the field as they attempt to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2002. Balogun has been a constant threat for the US so far this tournament, and has scored three goals in three starts.
Fifa said the automatic one-match ban will be suspended for a year.
Trump thanked Fifa for “reversing a great injustice” in a post on Truth Social.
Trump, a friend of Fifa president Gianni Infantino, wrote: “Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
More broadly in the US, there has been much disquiet from fans about the red card for one of their star players. Many media outlets have questioned the decision and the way football applies its rules – in terms of having to leave the field of play after a red card, and then being banned for a future match.
The co-hosts USA face Belgium in a FIFA World Cup round of 16 clash in Seattle on Monday evening,
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it is “astonished” by Fifa’s decision and is “investigating all potential options” in response.
“In line with article 27 of the Fifa disciplinary code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,” world governing body Fifa said in a statement.
“If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”
FIFA regulations (Article 9, Section 6) states that: “No protests may be made about the referee’s decisions regarding facts connected with play. Such decisions are final and not subject to appeal, unless otherwise stipulated in the FIFA Disciplinary Code.”
Furthermore, FIFA regulations (Article 10, Section 6) adds: “If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card [second caution], they will automatically be suspended from their team’s subsequent match. In addition, further sanctions may be imposed.”