UEFA has strongly criticised FIFA for suspending the implementation of an automatic one-match ban on United States forward Folarin Balogun, saying the decision “crossed a red line.”
In a statement issued on Monday, UEFA expressed deep concern that the move undermines the consistency of football’s rules and threatens the credibility of the ongoing World Cup.
“Yesterday’s decision to suspend for a probationary period of a year the implementation of the one-match automatic suspension following the red card issued to the player Folarin Balogun crossed a red line,” UEFA said.
The organisation stressed that football relies on clear and consistently applied regulations. “Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition. Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not,” it added.
UEFA warned that exceptions to automatic sanctions, especially mid-tournament, could set a dangerous precedent and damage the integrity of the competition. It voiced “disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.”
