\n
FIFA great decision<\/span> The decision to lift the U.S. star’s suspension infuriated Belgium, the country’s next World Cup opponent, and infuriated soccer fans and political leaders over the influence President Donald Trump had over the highly unusual ruling.<\/p>\nHours before kickoff, FIFA rejected the Belgian team challenge<\/span> About the most discussed political intervention world cup<\/span> In a few decades. This means forward Folarin Balogun will be eligible to play in Seattle on Monday night. A win would advance the U.S. to the quarterfinals, which would be the U.S.’s best finish in a Men’s World Cup since 2002.<\/p>\nFIFA lifted Balogun’s suspension on Sunday. phone call made by trump<\/span> Gianni Infantino, president of the international football organization. <\/p>\nLet’s take a closer look at this controversy here.<\/p>\n
Why Balogun and the red card are important<\/h2>\n
Born in New York to Nigerian parents, he grew up in London and played for Baloguns in the French league. birthright citizenship<\/span> made him eligible for the U.S.<\/p>\nSecuring his commitment to play on the American team was a coup, and it paid off. The 25-year-old leads the team’s World Cup scoring list with three goals. <\/p>\n
Everything was fine until Wednesday. with steps<\/span> Attacks opponent Tarik Muharemovic’s ankle Won 2-0<\/span> Defeated against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32.<\/p>\nBalogun’s decision to leave controversial<\/span> \u2014 His movements seemed awkward, but not malicious. However, when the referee decides to issue a red card, the penalty is usually simple. The player is excluded from the remaining games and is automatically suspended for the next game, at least until now.<\/p>\nIf his suspension had continued, replacing Balogun in the lineup would have been a big challenge for manager Mauricio Pochettino.<\/p>\n
The U.S. has plenty of offensive players who play wide and deep roles, but few have the physical power and goal-scoring ability to fill the center forward role, which the rest of the offense focuses on. Potential replacement Ricardo Pepi has not scored in four World Cup matches.<\/p>\n
FIFA explanation and things you didn’t say<\/h2>\n
There is usually no appeal process for automatic one-game suspensions, with only longer-term sanctions typically applied for the most serious offenses, such as violent conduct or racism.<\/p>\n
In deciding to play Balogun against Belgium, FIFA cited Article 27 of the Disciplinary Code, which states that a “judicial authority” may “suspend, in whole or in part, the implementation of disciplinary measures.” If Balogun commits a similar violation next year, he could receive a one-game suspension in addition to his future punishment.<\/p>\n
FIFA did not provide details on how it reached its decision, but Infantino insisted in a social media post that FIFA’s disciplinary committee acts independently and judges cases like Balogun’s based on “applicable regulations and specific facts.” Article 27 does not set out any requirements as to what cases qualify under the rarely used rule.<\/p>\n
Last year, FIFA handed one of the biggest stars in soccer history, Cristiano Ronaldo, a two-game ban out of a three-game ban. that left him The opening game of the World Cup can be played for free.<\/span> For Portugal. He was suspended for one game remaining in qualifying. <\/p>\nBalogun’s case appears to be the first time since 1962 that a red card during a World Cup match did not result in a suspension. At that time, the president of the host nation, Chile, insisted that Garrincha, the Brazilian midfielder who kicked the Chilean opponent, be allowed to play in the final. <\/p>\n
How President Trump Engaged in ‘Grave Misconduct’<\/h2>\n
“Thank you FIFA for doing the right thing and reversing a great injustice!” President Trump said on social media Sunday after Balogun’s suspension was lifted. President Trump defended his lobbying of Infantino on Monday, saying he merely pointed out that the referee’s call on Balogun appeared to be poor and needed to be looked into more closely.<\/p>\n
Infantino and Trump well known relationship<\/span>. As the United States prepares to host the World Cup, Swiss soccer officials have become regular visitors to the Oval Office. he gave to trump FIFA Peace Prize<\/span> The award has never been given to anyone else by the organization since or previously in December’s World Cup draw. <\/p>\nFIFA legislation prohibits governments from interfering with the independence of football bodies in managing their own affairs. FIFA regularly suspends member federations whose decisions are interfered with by the government.<\/p>\n
US coach Pochettino on Sunday praised FIFA’s actions, saying the initial on-field ruling against Balogun was “completely unfair”.<\/p>\n
Belgium rebels against FIFA’s decision<\/h2>\n
The Belgian Football Federation said it was “surprised” when news of FIFA’s intervention broke. Coach Rudy Garcia likened the decision to April Fool’s Day. <\/p>\n
On Monday afternoon, FIFA’s appeal judges rejected Belgium’s legal challenge less than eight hours before kick-off. The Belgian Football Association said: “As we are not a party to the litigation, we are not entitled to appeal the decision.” FIFA said in a statement:<\/span>.<\/p>\nFIFA’s disciplinary regulations state that suspensions of two games or less are generally not appealable, but this generally applies to teams who wish to have their suspensions lifted rather than reimposed. <\/p>\n
It is unclear whether and how quickly Belgium will be able to appeal to the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, which is waiting to rule on the emergency World Cup case.<\/p>\n
As Europe focused on the news on Monday, the Instagram account of Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Weber’s cat Maximus, himself a social media celebrity, voiced his opinion. photograph<\/span> The caption added: “Red card? I’m still going to play!”<\/p>\nAlso takes into account the opinions of other famous football players<\/h2>\n
European soccer organization UEFA criticized<\/span> FIFA condemned the “incomprehensible and unwarranted decision” and warned that “the integrity of the game is at stake”.<\/p>\nNorway coach Starre Solbakken weighed in on Sunday after his team beat Brazil to reach the quarter-finals. <\/p>\n
“What about the next red card? What happens then?” he said. “Is there a committee somewhere that will take that card away?”<\/p>\n
Former England international Wayne Rooney told the BBC: “Infantino, he should be ashamed of this, because I think the sportsmanship of this game is at stake here.”<\/p>\n
Former Sweden national team striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic welcomed the decision.<\/p>\n
“First of all, he shouldn’t have been given a red card, and they should have made this decision sooner,” Ibrahimovic told FOX Sports. “I’m happy for the American team, because the American team was great, but Baro was also really great.”<\/p>\n
England manager Thomas Tuchel predicted this could lead to a flurry of complaints and protests over other on-field decisions affecting key World Cup players. <\/p>\n
“My question is where do I draw the line,” he said after England beat Mexico 3-2 to book their place in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n
“Our yellow card from the first moment against Declan Rice. Now we can discuss it endlessly. I don’t think it’s a yellow card. Can we take this back?”<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed to this report.<\/p>\n
___ <\/p>\n
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
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