USA striker Folarin Balogun was shown a red card during the victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32 but FIFA has suspended his one-game ban
Wayne Rooney, speaking on the BBC, was not impressed that Folarin Balogun's ban has been suspended
Wayne Rooney, speaking on the BBC, was not impressed that Folarin Balogun's ban has been suspended
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Former Everton star Wayne Rooney has branded USA striker Folarin Balogun having a ban for being sent off suspended by FIFA “an absolute disgrace.”
Balogun, who was born in New York City but raised in London, is the hosts' top scorer at the tournament with three goals but received a red card during their 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 in Santa Clara, played in the early hours of last Thursday UK time.
The former Arsenal player became entangled with Tarik Muharemovic and his studs raked down the defender’s calf towards his ankle
The 25-year-old, who has been linked with a potential transfer to Everton this summer, had been expected to miss the last-16 encounter with Belgium in Seattle, which kicks off at 1am on Tuesday UK time. However, FIFA suddenly announced on Sunday night that his one-match ban had been suspended for a year.
No justification was provided by the governing body, leaving the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) astonished by the decision. The US hadn't even lodged an appeal against the red card as no such process exists in the World Cup.
US President Donald Trump posted on social media: “Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Multiple reports suggest Trump personally rang FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the red card.
The controversy was discussed by the BBC punditry team after the kick-off for England’s 3-2 win over Mexico in the round of 16 at the Azteca Stadium was delayed by an hour due to storms.
Following BBC host Kelly Cates’ overview of the Balogun situation, former England goalkeeper Joe Hart responded: “It doesn’t feel right does it?"
Croxteth-born Rooney, who made 117 appearances for Everton, netting 28 goals over two spells then delivered a scathing response, declaring: “I think it’s an absolute disgrace, I really do.
“I know it's UEFA but I got a three-game ban before Euro 2012. I was due to miss the three group games and I got told if I went over to Switzerland and did a training session with a bunch of kids, my third game would get taken off. I agreed to do it because I didn’t want a three-game ban, but I thought that was wrong.
“For this to be suspended, they either take the red card away, which is probably the right decision and then he can play. But to suspend it for a year?
“I think it’s an absolute disgrace. Infantino should be ashamed of this.
“The sportsmanship of this game is in question here. If I’m USA’s opponent, I’d be absolutely fuming.
“It’s wrong in every way. If you’re an England player tonight or a Mexican player, and you get a red card, do you expect to be playing the next game? Where does it stop?”
Rooney’s fellow pundit Micah Richards then chimed in: “It’s an absolute farce isn’t it? It wasn’t a red card.
“Balogun was trying to protect the ball and he went down, it happens, football is a contact sport. To have it suspend it for a year makes a mockery of the whole tournament.
“Like you said [Wayne], if that happens again tonight, they’ll say: ‘you did it for one...’ All this is to keep the big stars in the competition.
“America are one of the co-hosts. We all know what it is, FIFA need to do better.”
BBC presenter Cates then sought to temper Richards’ comments, stating: “We don’t know what it is.”
Rooney then interjected: “It might even affect him not missing a World Cup qualifier, so it’s not going to affect anything to do with the World Cup. It’s been brushed away so it’s not going to have anything to do with the World Cup.
“We’ve got to be honest about the situation, it’s left a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths. When the integrity comes into question for such a big tournament, for that to happen, it’s just not good enough.”