Call it the Folarin Balogun rule.
FIFA is changing its rules to prevent a repeat of the outcry sparked by the reversal of Balogun’s red-card ban at this summer’s World Cup, ESPN reported Wednesday.
The United States forward’s red card, and its mandatory one-match suspension, was overturned by FIFA’s disciplinary committee and he was allowed to play in a round of 16 match on July 6 against Belgium, which won 4-1.
He had received a direct red card in the 64th minute of a July 1 match for a foul on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemovic. The U.S. went on to win 2-0 with 10 men in the round of 32, and Balogun was suspended for the next game.
The controversy deepened when U.S. President Donald Trump admitted he had personally asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review the penalty. Infantino has claimed that the disciplinary committee’s decision was made without his involvement.
When the 37-member FIFA council meets on Thursday, a motion to prohibit future such suspensions of one-match bans will be at the top of the agenda, per ESPN.
Even if FIFA amends the rule, the Balogun controversy isn’t likely to disappear. FIFA vice president Debbie Hewitt is among the sport’s leaders who have asked Infantino to release all documents related to the case.
Thursday’s FIFA council meeting is the first since Infantino came under fire this summer for a now-tabled plan to sell a 20% stake in the World Cup’s commercial business to private investors.
–Field Level Media
