Tribal Football

'Crossed a red line': UEFA blast FIFA over Folarin Balogun case in statement

'Crossed a line': UEFA blast FIFA over Folarin Balogun case in statement
'Crossed a line': UEFA blast FIFA over Folarin Balogun case in statementREUTERS/Pierre Albouy/File Photo

UEFA have criticised FIFA for their handling of the Folarin Balogun case in a statement released on Monday.

It comes after it was revealed that Belgium had been granted access to appeal FIFA's decision to suspend USMNT forward Balogun's red card by one year following an intervention from U.S president Donald Trump. 

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In the statement, UEFA said: "Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition. Sometimes 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.

"It 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.

UEFA have also stated that the decision from FIFA has 'put the intergrity of the game at stake', as Balogun is still expected to feature for the USA against Belgium in the round of 16. 

The statement continued: "Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because it is played everywhere with the same laws. A tournament is never a pure standalone and, if the tournament in question is the World Cup, it has the power to drive positive or negative consequences on the game as a whole.

"We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision."

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