USA star Folarin Balogun, who is the country’s best, does not have to serve a suspension for the red card he received in the round of 16 against Bosnia.
The United States announced that it would appeal the red cards. In the rules of the International Football Federation (Fifa), there is no legal basis for appealing expulsions, but they can be made conditional.
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Received thanks from Trump
Now, Fifa’s disciplinary committee has been put into effect, and Balogun will play the last eight against Belgium on Tuesday night European time. – It is very good news for the United States that has received from FIFA.
The rumors that have not yet been confirmed in the morning hours today are that FiFA received a phone call from the White House, which the football organization denies. But they have a credibility problem after President Donald Trump’s messages on social media, where he praises the decision.
“Thank you to Fifa for doing the right thing, and for reversing this gross injustice.”
Folarin Balogun is ready for the USA’s World Cup quarter-final against Belgium on Monday – after FIFA surprisingly overturned his suspension.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia is highly critical of FIFA’s decision to lift Balogun’s automatic ban before the decisive match. The striker was expected to sit out Monday’s clash after the red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the previous round – but on Sunday came the news that he could still play.
Garcia initially thought the news was a joke:
“I didn’t know that in the World Cup, July 5 is actually the first of April – it’s April Fool’s Day,” he said.
The federation rages: “Astonished”
The Belgian Football Federation later issued a sharp statement expressing deep dissatisfaction and confirming that they are considering their options. They described themselves as “stunned” by FIFA’s decision, claiming that it violates the disciplinary guidelines issued before the tournament.
Garcia insisted that the case is about something bigger than Belgium’s own interests:
“We are not defending the national team or the federation. We defend football.
The Balogun expulsion – and the reversal
Balogun was sent off after a tackle that initially went unpunished – before a video review resulted in a red card. Under normal circumstances, an automatic one-match suspension follows. The unexpected reversal has therefore raised questions about the consistency of the tournament’s disciplinary process.
Belgium is unhappy both with the outcome – and with the timing of the decision.
The Norwegian national team manager, in all the joy of having won over Brazil, managed to comment on FIFA’s decision: Ståle Solbakken reacts strongly to the decision that Folarin Balogun does not have to serve a suspension after a red card.- It is a bad, bad, bad, bad, bad decision that will hurt the World Cup, said Ståle Solbakken at last night’s press conference in New Jersey.
Courtois: “We will be ready”
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois acknowledged that the late decision has complicated preparations, but stressed that his team will be ready either way.
“If it had been done earlier, we might have been mentally better prepared,” Courtois said.
“It’s good that we have a new training session, but we’ll be ready. We have to be on the field. They have 11 players, not just Balogun.
Courtois also highlighted Balogun’s qualities:
“He’s a very fast striker. Maybe a different profile than Pepi. They have a lot of quality in the front.
Now it remains to be seen whether FIFA’s decision will have consequences beyond Monday’s game – but one thing is certain: Belgium will not forget this case anytime soon.
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