Fifa decision on Balogun red card sparks confusion among coaches
Disciplinary process under scrutiny
England coach Thomas Tuchel has expressed confusion regarding the disciplinary process at the World Cup, following a decision by Fifa not to suspend United States striker Folarin Balogun. Balogun, who received a red card against Bosnia-Herzegovina, was available for his team’s last-16 match against Belgium. This decision contrasts with the tournament regulations, which state that a red card results in an automatic suspension for the subsequent match.
Fifa invoked a clause in its disciplinary code that permits the suspension of a disciplinary measure, either fully or partially. This action has led to questions about consistency in decisions, particularly after Jarell Quansah of England was sent off in a 3-2 victory over Mexico. Quansah was the 13th player to be sent off in the 2026 World Cup, and the other 12 players, excluding Balogun, served suspensions for their next game.
Tuchel questioned the implications of such interventions. “Where does this start and where does this end now?” Tuchel remarked. “Can we overturn it or not overturn it? What’s going on?” He further added, “Where to draw the line is the question that I ask. I have no answer to that.”
VAR decisions and consistency concerns
Both Balogun and Quansah were sent off following a video assistant referee (VAR) review. Tuchel highlighted the VAR process in his defence of Quansah, noting that the incident involving Quansah was not initially called a foul by the referee.
“In the game this was not even given a foul, so the referee obviously also thought that it’s a hard tackle but it was OK for him to let it play,” Tuchel stated. He continued, “VAR came, made a decision and then, like always, I just saw the still on the screen. You cannot take decisions on a still in a football match. It’s just not possible.”
Tuchel also questioned the grounds for overturning decisions, asking, “Who overturns this decision and when and on what grounds? And how far does this go now? It’s just strange for me. We just want to have consistency in the decisions.” He mentioned other instances, such as a yellow card for Declan Rice and Michael Olise, suggesting that if decisions can be overturned, it opens up endless debate.
Reports indicate that Balogun’s availability for the match against Belgium followed contact between Donald Trump and Fifa president Gianni Infantino. Sources familiar with the call suggested that the US questioned the use of slow-motion replays in the VAR review. However, it has been stated that VAR protocol was followed correctly.
Reactions from other teams
The decision regarding Balogun has drawn varied reactions. While many US fans and coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed satisfaction, Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia conveyed his displeasure, stating he was unaware that April Fools’ Day fell in July. The Belgian federation is reportedly reviewing its legal options.
Norway head coach Ståle Solbakken also commented on the situation after his team’s 2-0 victory over Brazil. Solbakken described Fifa’s decision as a “big mistake” and a “bad, bad, bad, bad, bad decision.” He added, “I feel sorry for the United States, because even if they win, the game will always have this bad thing about it. Not good for the sport. Bad decision by Fifa.”
Fifa has pointed to an article in its bylaws that allows for such decisions, maintaining that its disciplinary process cannot be swayed by external intervention. The USMNT had reached its current stage in the tournament through strong performances, with Balogun being a key player. Despite this, the perception of an unfair advantage has been raised by some.
Trump reportedly welcomed the news of Balogun’s reprieve on social media, thanking Fifa for reversing what he termed a “grave injustice.” This intervention has led to concerns that it could taint the US team’s potential advancement in the tournament.
England is scheduled to play Norway in a quarter-final match on Saturday.
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Source: bbc.co.uk