The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is unhappy with FIFA's decision to lift Folarin Balogun's red card ban ahead of the United States' round of 16 matchup against Belgium at the World Cup, claiming the organization "crossed a red line."
"When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined," said UEFA in a statement Monday. "We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision."
FIFA cleared the American striker after President Donald Trump urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to look over Balogun's red card case. And the decision has been ridiculed by some prominent figures in the sport.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp called it "madness," claiming Trump and Infantino know nothing about the sport, and believing they should have no say in the case. President of the German Football Association Bernd Neuendorf claimed that this decision put the credibility of FIFA as an organization at stake.
Here's what UEFA had to say in Monday's statement.
Balogun red card: UEFA's statement against FIFA
UEFA opens its statement by claiming that FIFA "crossed a red line." The statement continues, "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."
"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."
Have other players served red card suspensions in the World Cup already?
Yes. Several. In fact, prior to Balogun's reinstatement, only one other time has a red card at the World Cup not led to a suspension.
In 1962, Brazil's Garrincha was given a red card during a match against Chile. Red cards did not carry automatic suspensions at the time, but Garrincha was not going to be allowed to play until intervention from both the Chilean and Peruvian Presidents asked FIFA to let Garrincha play in the final. Brazil won 3-1.
Obviously, this case is different. The Bosnian President was not the one to ask FIFA to reinstate Balogun.
When does the U.S. face Belgium?
The United States plays Belgium at 8 p.m. ET on Monday. Interested fans can watch the game on the FOX One and FOX Sports app or with streaming services like Fubo or YouTube TV.
Source: USA Today
