FIFA faced criticism for its handling of two red-card incidents in the World Cup, with England’s Jarell Quansah receiving a two-match suspension, while U.S. striker Folarin Balogun escaped an immediate ban for a similar offense. The decisions left former international referees perplexed.
Quansah was red-carded in England’s recent round-of-16 win against Mexico for a studs-up challenge, resulting in a two-match ban that the England Football Association could not appeal. On the other hand, Balogun received a one-match suspension for a similar incident during the U.S.’s match against Bosnia. FIFA later suspended Balogun’s ban under Article 27 of the disciplinary code without providing a public explanation.
The involvement of U.S. President Donald Trump in advocating for Balogun’s case added to the controversy, although FIFA maintained that it did not influence their decision-making process. Former referee Keith Hackett criticized FIFA for allowing external interference and delaying Balogun’s ban.
Jonas Eriksson, a former FIFA referee, highlighted the importance of consistency in disciplinary decisions. He noted that if Balogun received a one-match ban, Quansah should have received a similar punishment since their actions were comparable in intensity and aggression.
The lack of transparency in explaining the reversal of Balogun’s ban added fuel to the debate, with Belgium challenging his eligibility in the subsequent match against the U.S. Eriksson emphasized the need for clear communication from FIFA regarding their decisions to maintain credibility and understanding in such cases.