Folarin Balogun, a striker for the United States, was issued a red card, and UEFA has taken issue with FIFA for suspending him.
After his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Balogun was expected to face a one-match suspension.
However, he would be allowed to play in Sunday’s last-32 match against Belgium, according to FIFA.
head Trump of the United States intervened by speaking with FIFA head Gianni Infantino over the phone, leading to this about-face.
The decision to suspend Folarin Balogun for a year following his red card was a clear violation of UEFA’s rules, according to a statement released on Monday by the organization.
Rules provide the foundation for open, honest, and fair competition in football, as they do in all sports. At times, regulations might be construed in variety of ways. Not in this instance.
There is no room for discretion in the implementation of a mandatory one-match suspension following a red card; the decision of an appropriate authority is not necessary for its implementation.
Even more so in the midst of a tournament when multiple other players have faced the same fate and have diligently served their suspensions, this principle ingrained in the rules simply cannot be waived.
Integrity of the game and credibility of a competition are compromised when the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by their keepers.
At the same time, this decision hurts the competition because it sets a precedent for how similar situations will be handled in the current tournament.
Because it is both a beautiful game and a trusted sport played according to the same rules worldwide, football has more fans than any other sport.
We are shocked and appalled by this decision, which is completely out of the ordinary and has no rational basis whatsoever.”