The World Cup team is planning to appeal the referee’s decision after Folarin Balogun was shown a red card and suspended.
FIFA might face more appeals after controversially canceling Folarin Balogun’s red card, meaning he can play against Belgium in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Balogun was sent off during the USA’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina after VAR showed he kicked Tarik Muharemovic’s ankle. Normally, this red card means Balogun would miss the next match against Belgium.
But on Sunday, FIFA announced the red card suspension was put on hold, so Balogun can play in the big game. Their statement said that if Balogun commits a similar offense within a year, the suspension will be put back, and he might face more punishment.
The decision came after former US President Donald Trump personally called FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, asking him to review the red card. Trump thanked FIFA on social media for “doing what was right” and correcting “a great injustice.”
Belgium’s football association said they were shocked by the decision, pointing out FIFA’s rule that a red card usually means a player misses the next match. They are now looking into their options.
Belgium’s coach, Rudi Garcia, even joked, “I didn’t know that at the World Cup, July 5th was actually April Fools’ Day.”
It looks like FIFA’s choice might set off more challenges. French newspaper L’Equipe reported that the French Football Federation asked FIFA to cancel a yellow card shown to Michael Olise in their win over Paraguay. They believe Olise didn’t actually touch the opposing player.
Yellow cards are wiped clean after the quarter-finals, but two yellow cards before that means a player misses the next game. France plays Morocco next, and if Olise gets another yellow, he would miss the semi-final.
England’s coach, Thomas Tuchel, also reacted strongly after Jarell Quansah was sent off against Mexico, meaning he won’t play in England’s quarter-final versus Norway.
Tuchel questioned FIFA’s fairness, saying, “First, it’s clear Balogun’s action is not a red card. But VAR showed three officials agreed it was. So the decision was made. Who then cancels that decision, and why? How far will this go? It’s strange for me… Where does this start and end?”