Folarin Balogun sees RED
Football fans have taken to social media to criticise FIFA for suspending USA’s Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban after he was sent off against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The Monaco forward was given a straight red card for a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic in a 2-0 victory in the round of 32.
According to Fifa regulations, a red card “automatically incurs suspension from the subsequent match” but the governing body “may impose additional match suspensions and other disciplinary measures”.
However, FIFA announced on Sunday in a statement that Balogun’s red card has been suspended for a year.
The statement read: “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.
“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.”
The decision did not go down well with football fans on social media, some have accused FIFA of corruption.
La Maison branded the decision a disgrace while criticising Gianni Infantino.
He wrote on X: This is an absolute disgrace. Gianni Infantino is a poison to football. At this point, if Trump told him to change the size, shape, or even the colour of the ball, he’d do it without a second thought.
“This isn’t just shameless pandering to the Trump administration anymore, it’s outright selling football’s soul to squeeze every last dollar out of the U.S. market.
“Every decision seems driven by money instead of the integrity of the game. And now we’ve reached the point where players can pull a reverse Uno card? Is this still football, or have we turned it into a parody of itself?” He asked.
Read Also: Deschamps hails France players after heated Paraguay encounter
Hecky wrote on X: “Never host any major tournaments in the USA again, they are now interfering with FIFA’s decisions now. Can we do the same for every player that get sent off too or its only when its their player?”
DJ Langster wrote: “Absolute farce. The corruption between these two cunts is unrivalled. A fucking disgrace
“So much for keeping politics out of football. I also wonder if Trump will see the irony in him calling about a birthright citizen the same week he lambasted the Supreme Court on their ruling.”
Gitobu wrote: “The federation that calls itself apolitical has become a political entity under shadow president Gianni Infantino ! This is weird and unbelievable. However, With or without Balogun Belgium will feast on the USA. However, a lot of questions have to be answered. This is unbelievable.”
Climaxx wrote: “Because of this, I want the USA to lose today. It looks like FIFA is bending the rules, or they’re being controlled. Maybe losing will make this kind of control and favoritism stop.”
Iyazi wrote: Trump is everywhere putting pressure on the FIFA officials to reverse the suspension against Folarin. It’s a shame.
“This World Cupis just rubbish. We have seen players given red cards for covering their mouth but others were not given. Zwane from South Africa was given a red card after he committed the same offence with Folarin but this one is reversed. Why?”
Yahiana wrote: “Corruption in broad daylight. It was a clear red card, yet FIFA chose politics over the rules. A shameful decision that damages the credibility of the game.”
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump also took to X to thank FIFA for overturning Balogun’s red card.
He wrote: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!”
It would be recalled that Cristiano Ronaldo was cleared to play for Portugal at the World Cup after he was sent off against the Republic of Ireland during the World Cup qualifiers.
He received the marching order for an elbow on Dara Oshea’s back and was handed a three match ban after the encounter in November.
He missed just one game against Armenia before FIFA suspended the remainder of the ban for a year to allow him to participate in the World Cup.
Balogun has scored three goals for USA in the tournament and he is expected to return against Belgium on Tuesday in the round of 16.
‘Shameful’ – Fans blast FIFA for suspending Balogun’s ban
Football fans have taken to social media to criticise FIFA for suspending USA’s Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban after he was sent off against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The Monaco forward was given a straight red card for a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic in a 2-0 victory in the round of 32.
According to Fifa regulations, a red card “automatically incurs suspension from the subsequent match” but the governing body “may impose additional match suspensions and other disciplinary measures”.
However, FIFA announced on Sunday in a statement that Balogun’s red card has been suspended for a year.
The statement read: “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.
“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.”
The decision did not go down well with football fans on social media, some have accused FIFA of corruption.
La Maison branded the decision a disgrace while criticising Gianni Infantino.
He wrote on X: This is an absolute disgrace. Gianni Infantino is a poison to football. At this point, if Trump told him to change the size, shape, or even the colour of the ball, he’d do it without a second thought.
“This isn’t just shameless pandering to the Trump administration anymore, it’s outright selling football’s soul to squeeze every last dollar out of the U.S. market.
“Every decision seems driven by money instead of the integrity of the game. And now we’ve reached the point where players can pull a reverse Uno card? Is this still football, or have we turned it into a parody of itself?” He asked.
Read Also: Deschamps hails France players after heated Paraguay encounter
Hecky wrote on X: “Never host any major tournaments in the USA again, they are now interfering with FIFA’s decisions now. Can we do the same for every player that get sent off too or its only when its their player?”
DJ Langster wrote: “Absolute farce. The corruption between these two cunts is unrivalled. A fucking disgrace
“So much for keeping politics out of football. I also wonder if Trump will see the irony in him calling about a birthright citizen the same week he lambasted the Supreme Court on their ruling.”
Gitobu wrote: “The federation that calls itself apolitical has become a political entity under shadow president Gianni Infantino ! This is weird and unbelievable. However, With or without Balogun Belgium will feast on the USA. However, a lot of questions have to be answered. This is unbelievable.”
Climaxx wrote: “Because of this, I want the USA to lose today. It looks like FIFA is bending the rules, or they’re being controlled. Maybe losing will make this kind of control and favoritism stop.”
Iyazi wrote: Trump is everywhere putting pressure on the FIFA officials to reverse the suspension against Folarin. It’s a shame.
“This World Cupis just rubbish. We have seen players given red cards for covering their mouth but others were not given. Zwane from South Africa was given a red card after he committed the same offence with Folarin but this one is reversed. Why?”
Yahiana wrote: “Corruption in broad daylight. It was a clear red card, yet FIFA chose politics over the rules. A shameful decision that damages the credibility of the game.”
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump also took to X to thank FIFA for overturning Balogun’s red card.
He wrote: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!”
It would be recalled that Cristiano Ronaldo was cleared to play for Portugal at the World Cup after he was sent off against the Republic of Ireland during the World Cup qualifiers.
He received the marching order for an elbow on Dara Oshea’s back and was handed a three match ban after the encounter in November.
He missed just one game against Armenia before FIFA suspended the remainder of the ban for a year to allow him to participate in the World Cup.
Balogun has scored three goals for USA in the tournament and he is expected to return against Belgium on Tuesday in the round of 16.
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