NFR Balogun

[Ludlow Richard]

So Balogun's red card for the USA has been overturned (and reduced to a "suspended sentence") after overt pressure on FIFA from senior US Government officials and no doubt covert pressure as well.

If it had been a FFC player committing the challenge in a PL game, I don't think we would have any argument about a straight red, whether there was malice in the challenge or not.

Something is not quite right here.

[The Old Count]

The game, especially at international level, is completely bent.

[demeant0r]

To be fair to Balogun, I don't think that was a red card.

[SerbianLad]

To be fair to Balogun, I don't think that was a red card.

I think it's a clear red. It doesn't matter if it's deliberate or not, a contact on that part of your leg with your studs has always been a red, in every competition in the world.

Regardless, this decisions is an absolute disgrace. He got a red and he shouldn't play the next game. It's as simple as that. FIFA have set a dangerous precedent here.

[SerbianLad]

Also, I hope Belgium beats them convincingly now. I didn't care about that result before this, but now I hope they lose. Blatant cheating

[JimmyConway]

Infantino is making Blatter look like a Choirboy? That decision is not given to any Country other than USA! So blatantly overturned.

[SP]

Awful challenge, accidental or not, nothing is beyond FIFA.

[HobGoblin]

Awful decision to change the red due to being pressured by a corrupt regime.

The ref after VAR deemed it a sending off, the fifa boll*ck head guy should have just backed his ref, but no doubt a few extra dirty dollars paid for it to be rescinded.

[ron]

Who would have known?

Trump is the fount of truth and justice,
 and......

....all rules are negotiable by being immersed for a while in the cesspool that is FIFA.

[sunburywhite]

Its just been announced that if Belgium win the game will be replayed until USA win

[SP]

Thank god Trump doesn't support West Ham.

[Twig]

I wonder how much bung that cost Trump? What a corrupt sport top flight football is now.

[Whitestone]

I don't believe it was a red card offence. Have those running the game forgotten that football is a contact sport. There was nothing reckless or deliberate about the contact IMO. If people want an over sanitised game fair enough but I don't.
That said, it's ridiculous to turn a red card and the suspension that goes with it into a suspended offence. Appeal it and if appropriate overturn the original decision.
Lastly, why did some posters decide to introduce Trump into the discussion. Can't we stick to the football?

[ron]

I don't believe it was a red card offence. Have those running the game forgotten that football is a contact sport. There was nothing reckless or deliberate about the contact IMO. If people want an over sanitised game fair enough but I don't.
That said, it's ridiculous to turn a red card and the suspension that goes with it into a suspended offence. Appeal it and if appropriate overturn the original decision.
Lastly, why did some posters decide to introduce Trump into the discussion. Can't we stick to the football?

We are. It's only a shame that Trump can't stick to politics.

[Eton White]

This stinks to high heaven of corruption. There have been 12 red cards shown during this World Cup and this has been the only one suspended. Why? Because Infantino will do anything Trump tells him to. The reason Trump is being mentioned is not to make this thread political. It's because he is the reason for this happening. He even publicly thanked Infantino for "righting an injustice". This is supposed to be football, not politics. Why is he getting involved?

Fifa did the same with the red card Cristiano Ronaldo was given during the qualifying match against Ireland which would have led him to missing the first two games of the World Cup. The very same Ronaldo who had dinner with Trump and Infantino at the White House just days before his red card was overturned.

I'm done with this World Cup.

[BestOfBrede]

Doesn't matter if we think it was a red or not, it was given and therefore should stand.

Any player getting a red now, before the final, can/should request a suspended sentence- rightly
So IMO!

[DadCreature]

From SSPN-

FIFA in November deferred the final two games of a three-match ban for Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo for a red card against Ireland in a World Cup qualifier, allowing him to play at the start of the World Cup.

Argentine defender Nicolás Otamendi and Ecuadoran midfielder Moisés Caicedo in April had one-game bans deferred for red cards in qualifiers, also allowing them to be available for World Cup openers

[JimmyConway]

I don't believe it was a red card offence. Have those running the game forgotten that football is a contact sport. There was nothing reckless or deliberate about the contact IMO. If people want an over sanitised game fair enough but I don't.
That said, it's ridiculous to turn a red card and the suspension that goes with it into a suspended offence. Appeal it and if appropriate overturn the original decision.
Lastly, why did some posters decide to introduce Trump into the discussion. Can't we stick to the football?

I tend to think there was no malice intended more clumsiness. Having said when it's slowed down his right foot rakes the back of the fellas hamstring with the studs then follows on to the foot all in the same movement. If it's your player you wouldn't have to much sympathy with a Red Card being given if your the opposition you would be amazed if not given as a Red Card!