USA player cleared to play despite red card

USA striker Folarin Balogun was shown a straight red card in their Last 32 victory.

That should have meant he could not play in their Last 16 match against Belgium, and there was no opportunity to appeal - according to World Cup rules.

However, FIFA have now given him a suspended one match ban so he can play against Belgium. FIFA can do that due to article 27 - just as Cristiano Ronaldo would have been banned for Portugal's opening game of the tournament, but FIFA reversed it.

This is Gianni Infantino's FIFA.

Donald Trump on Folarin Balogun red card case:

“Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice”.

This suggests US Government involvement in the decision.

Just as the Ronaldo case was ridiculous so is this.

Donald Trump on Folarin Balogun red card case:

“Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice”.

This suggests US Government involvement in the decision.

Think it was secretary of state that got involved

Donald Trump on Folarin Balogun red card case:

“Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice”.

This suggests US Government involvement in the decision.

Think it was secretary of state that got involved

It 100% came from the tangerine tyrant via one of his many minions, that's how he keeps his distance from things & gets to blame everyone else if it goes to shit.

UEFA needs to leave FIFA...... We don't need them, and hopefully the rest will then try to clean it up

On a side note, I don't think a red card should mean an automatic ban in tournament football. The player was punished against the team he fouled, so it shouldn't mean anything in subsequent games.

Gary Neville on ITV:

"It's a disgrace. Was I surprised? Not with this lot."

UEFA needs to leave FIFA...... We don't need them, and hopefully the rest will then try to clean it up

On a side note, I don't think a red card should mean an automatic ban in tournament football. The player was punished against the team he fouled, so it shouldn't mean anything in subsequent games.

I don't think it was a red card offence anyway, but FIFA say there is no appeal process.

Obviously unless the President of one of the host countries appeals.

There should be an appeal process for red cards because VAR make mistakes.

Donald Trump on Folarin Balogun red card case:

“Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice”.

This suggests US Government involvement in the decision.

Think it was secretary of state that got involved

Confirmed now that the White House made the call.

Gary Neville:

"Let's be clear, it absolutely stinks."

Donald Trump on Folarin Balogun red card case:

“Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice”.

This suggests US Government involvement in the decision.

Think it was secretary of state that got involved

It 100% came from the tangerine tyrant via one of his many minions, that's how he keeps his distance from things & gets to blame everyone else if it goes to shit.

Yes that's what's being reported a personal approach to infantino from his boyfriend trump... Belgium looking into what can be done about it...

Was never a red card in the first place but should have been left for the football people to decide. Absolutely stinks if it’s true there was political pressure.

I wonder where all the people who say "keep politics out of sport" are now?

Great response from journalist Jon Sopel:

Just when you think your contempt for @FIFAWorldCup and the US administration can’t get any greater.
Humbly, what the f**k does a red card have to do with the US president, and why has Infantino buckled?

Great response from journalist Jon Sopel:

Just when you think your contempt for @FIFAWorldCup and the US administration can’t get any greater.
Humbly, what the f**k does a red card have to do with the US president, and why has Infantino buckled?

What it as done ned is leave it open for any red card until end of WC to be argued that it should be suspended? They had chance to overturn the decision when it happened they didn't do that so should be end of matter..
Its not even rescinded its suspended for a year? Conveniently usa don't have a WC game for over a year once competition ends.... best thing to happen is for potty to leave him out of squad for game it should mitigate any complaints then

Great response from journalist Jon Sopel:

Just when you think your contempt for @FIFAWorldCup and the US administration can’t get any greater.
Humbly, what the f**k does a red card have to do with the US president, and why has Infantino buckled?

What it as done ned is leave it open for any red card until end of WC to be argued that it should be suspended? They had chance to overturn the decision when it happened they didn't do that so should be end of matter..
Its not even rescinded its suspended for a year? Conveniently usa don't have a WC game for over a year once competition ends.... best thing to happen is for potty to leave him out of squad for game it should mitigate any complaints then

He should leave him out the team, or it will taint them whatever happens against Belgium.

Norway manager said this (they're on the other side of the draw so no conflict of interest) and I think he's spot on:

'A big mistake by FIFA. A bad, bad, bad decision and I feel sorry for the United States because if they win against Belgium, there will always be this extra thing about it'

Great response from journalist Jon Sopel:

Just when you think your contempt for @FIFAWorldCup and the US administration can’t get any greater.
Humbly, what the f**k does a red card have to do with the US president, and why has Infantino buckled?

What it as done ned is leave it open for any red card until end of WC to be argued that it should be suspended? They had chance to overturn the decision when it happened they didn't do that so should be end of matter..
Its not even rescinded its suspended for a year? Conveniently usa don't have a WC game for over a year once competition ends.... best thing to happen is for potty to leave him out of squad for game it should mitigate any complaints then

He should leave him out the team, or it will taint them whatever happens against Belgium.

Norway manager said this (they're on the other side of the draw so no conflict of interest) and I think he's spot on:

'A big mistake by FIFA. A bad, bad, bad decision and I feel sorry for the United States because if they win against Belgium, there will always be this extra thing about it'

It's plain corruption by two very corrupt people! A can of worms sping to mind as infantino will have job denying any other red card suspension appeal.... context 182 red cards in WC only 2 players avoid suspension 1962 when committee decided suspensions for red card and this one where there is no mechanism to overturn suspension.. ....

Donald Trump on Folarin Balogun red card case:

“Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice”.

This suggests US Government involvement in the decision.

The Donald and his pocket-sized ‘friend’ (Infantino) making mutually agreeable decisions AGAIN!

The surname Infantino originates primarily from Italy, with deep roots in Sicily and Calabria. It translates to ‘infant’ or ‘child’

And there we have the link! Nuff said!

Infantino is far worse than Sepp Blatter and that is saying something. Fifa has lost any credibility it had with him in charge (which wasn't much anyway)

Be interesting to see if England appeal the red card? But infantino won't state why usa one was recinded? I'm guessing if did it dould open the can of worms? Eufa not happy how stupid can infantino be to think this was acceptable to the world of football especially as they're the custodians of the game.

Be interesting to see if England appeal the red card? But infantino won't state why usa one was recinded? I'm guessing if did it dould open the can of worms? Eufa not happy how stupid can infantino be to think this was acceptable to the world of football especially as they're the custodians of the game.

Really hope Belgium beat them tonight now.

I wonder where all the people who say "keep politics out of sport" are now?

I think they are still all saying keep politics out of sport, haven't come across anybody anywhere defending this.

Be interesting to see if England appeal the red card? But infantino won't state why usa one was recinded? I'm guessing if did it dould open the can of worms? Eufa not happy how stupid can infantino be to think this was acceptable to the world of football especially as they're the custodians of the game.

Let's be real FIFA have got away with pretty much everything they've ever done. Blatter took the wrap last time and they just carried on. Especially as they'd already set this precedent by allowing Ronaldo to skip his suspension. Is this a shock to anyone. I don't even blame Trump for asking only a complete idiot would say yes to this

I wish all the posters on here who have TDS would stop clutching their pearls.

A strong leader has put pressure onto an organisation and made them buckle. Wouldn't it be great if we had one in the UK rather than being the laughing stock of the world?

Really simple answer here if the usa play the red carded player then Belgium shoud start the game with their least needed player and have him completely take out the usa player. So he will be red carded so all belgium do is appeal against it,Fifa would have to allow the appeal "Wouldn't they"
Ps Belgium have been given leave to appeal,
So a can of worms has well and truly been opened,
A future team having an input/appeal into a previous matches disiplinary results, you could not make it up.
Just a quick question "how can someone as thick as Trump become president?" Twice

I wish all the posters on here who have TDS would stop clutching their pearls.

A strong leader has put pressure onto an organisation and made them buckle. Wouldn't it be great if we had one in the UK rather than being the laughing stock of the world?

Keep politics out of sport my arse

It’s a disgraceful intervention, which could have a massive impact on the game

I sincerely hope Belgium win the game, but do far the portents are not going that way

Trump the Bully and his pocket-sized sycophant (Infantino) have shown contempt for any integrity that was left in the game

From day one USA have been so Corrupt.

This is just another part of how USA have made this the Worst ever World Cup for do many bad things off the field

Donald Trump confirms he made the call to Infantino. Also says if you look at the referee's past, he's "very suspect" and praises FIFA for a "brilliant decision":


"I'm a person that loves sports and was a good athlete and I understand sports really well, really well.

"That wasn't a foul... that was two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other. Like, you can't take your foot and properly place it on somebody else's foot... these were two great athletes that got tangled up.

"This referee is a little bit suspect. If you check his past, I don't want to say that because I don't like to create controversy, but very suspect."

He also calls Balogun "our best player".

Trump goes on to say "I'm the one that got them to do it", referring to his call with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, where he asked him to suspend the red card.

The US president reiterates, "I didn't think that was a foul", and praises FIFA for a "really brilliant decision".

More from Trump:


"I think the referee's call was horrible and nobody talks about that," he tells reporters in the Oval Office.

"They talk about the red card like it's fine, nobody talks [about] the referee's decision to red card.

"I didn't know what the hell a red card was, when I found out, I said 'you got to be kidding'."

Trump accuses referees of deciding "your best player is not going to play next week or in the next game".

"I said 'wow, that's a lot of power'," he adds.

"That's terrible, but then I looked at his [referee's] past and it wasn't so great."

I am not a big trump lover but he gets things done unlike the buffoon we have in charge ,but talk about keeping politics out of football the trump bashing on here is incredible, which has more to do with not liking his politics, rather than football,
How many band players can you get on a waggon.