‘Corrupt to the core’: FIFA sparks outrage with new punishment for Folarin Balogun
· Yahoo Sports
Over the weekend, FIFA added some drama to Monday night’s showdown between the United States and Belgium in the round of 16 of the World Cup, announcing that USMNT striker Folarin Balogun would be eligible to play in the match despite receiving a red card in the previous match, which carries an automatic suspension.
It was a rather unprecedented move from FIFA that sparked widespread outrage from the soccer and sports community, especially after United States President Donald Trump became involved in requesting a review of the foul. Now, further complicating things, Balogun has received a new punishment from FIFA.
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Folarin Balogun Controversy
During last week’s showdown between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Balogun was issued a red card by VAR after he stepped on an opponent’s leg and ankle while jostling for positioning on an incoming ball.
As a result of the straight red card, Balogun was sent off from the match, meaning the United States had to play the remainder of the match with just 10 men. Even more significantly, a red card carries an automatic suspension for the next game, meaning that Balogun would be unavailable for the team’s round of 16 match against Belgium.
However, in a highly unusual move, FIFA announced on Sunday that his punishment for the red card had been suspended. FIFA cited Article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code, which FIFA also used to reverse a two-match suspension for Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo before the beginning of the World Cup.
The decision sparked widespread outrage throughout the sports world, especially after it was reported that Trump called Infantino to request a review of the foul. Some high-profile Americans have even claimed that they will root for Belgium over the United States as a result of the controversy.
However, both Trump and Infantino have insisted that Trump’s call did not impact FIFA’s decision.
“All I did, I asked for a review, cause I didn’t think it was a foul,” Trump said during a press conference on Monday via Yahoo. “I didn’t tell them what to do, I can’t tell them what to do. … I think it was a committee that made the decision, and they made the right decision.”
Balogun Given Additional Punishment
While the situation was already rather unprecedented, it took an even more bizarre twist on Monday when Balogun was hit with an additional punishment from FIFA, a day after the disciplinary committee announced he would be eligible to play in Monday’s match.
On Monday, FIFA announced in a lengthy statement that Balogun had been fined $40,000 in connection with the red card he received last week. FIFA also found that United States Soccer Federation (USSF) “was declared jointly liable” for paying the fine, meaning that Balogun will likely not pay the full fine himself.
The disciplinary committee said that Balogun had been investigated by FIFA the red card and then for re-entering the field to celebrate with his U.S. teammates after the win “despite his expulsion.” The committee found him “guilty of both infringements,” though it’s not clear which infringement led to the fine.
In the statement, FIFA confirmed that Balogun normally would have served the one-match suspension during Monday’s game as a result of the red card he received against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but that the disciplinary committee had applied “Article 27,” which provides FIFA broad discretion to alter disciplinary measures.
The suspended sentence means that Balogun will have a one-year probationary period. If he commits a similar “infringement,” such as another red card or similar violation, during that span, the one-game ban will be added to whatever punishment he’s given for the new violation.
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has the discretion to suspend the implementation of any disciplinary measures so long as they do not relate to match manipulation — which, of course, did not occur here,” the statement read.
Decision Sparks Outrage
Given that Balogun has been cleared to play in Monday night’s match, the decision to give him a $40,000 fine sparked almost unanimous outrage from all sides. Some fans believed that the $40,000 fine was unfair if the disciplinary committee decided that Balogun’s red card should not result in a suspension. Others felt that the existence of the fine suggests that Balogun should have remained suspended for Monday night’s match.
Either way, it sparked some strong reactions.
“So they’ve suspended his card, meaning he can play tonight but they’ve fined him $40,000 in the process? Makes total sense that,” prominent soccer personality HLTCO wrote in a post on X.
“So the infraction wasn’t worthy of a red card, but was worthy of a fine? I mean, what are we doing here?” Kyle Bonn of the Sporting News wrote in a post.
“No red card, but paying a fine for the red card. Corrupt organization,” another fan added.
“So they stand by the red card and have literally just decided he can not be suspended. Corrupt to the core,” sportswriter Michael Graham wrote in a post.
“How does any of this make sense? This is a mockery of the sport,” another fan wrote.
Balogun is in the starting lineup for the United States as they take on Belgium.
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