FIFA Overturns Balogun Suspension, Questions Remain

Photo Credit (AFP Photo)

FIFA did the right thing reviewing the Balogun red card, however their lack of clarity on why they are suspending his one game ban could lead to larger controversy. Especially when there have already been questionable officiating decision throughout the World Cup and FIFA owes the players, teams and fans a clear explanation of why they treated this situation differently.

 In the Round of 32, USA striker Folarin Balogun was shown a red card, after video review, for a challenge against Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic. Initially there was no free kick, no booking, nothing which is why everyone was confused about the call. Now let’s talk about the rules of Virtual Assistant Referee (VAR) FIFA a little bit. According the Internation Football(soccer) Association Board (IFAB) the VAR may assist the referee in the event a clear and obvious error or serious missed incident happened in relation to 4 categories. These categories are 1) Goal/no goal, 2) Penalty/no penalty, 3) Red Card (to include an incorrect second yellow), 4) Mistaken identity.

There are also guidelines for the procedures of using VAR. During these procedures there is a step in which IFAB rules state that slow motion replays should only be used for facts like position of offense and point of contact where intensity should be seen at normal speed. I would assume this is to keep the game moving in speed and not slowing down every play making everything reviewable. Referee Raphael Claus initially called nothing on the field despite being just yards away from the spot of the foul. It was VAR Juan Ernesto Soto Arevalo who recommended an on-field review for serious foul play.

This is where things get tricky and downright wrong using invalid protocol procedures. When it was recommended and the referee made the decision to review the play the play was shown to him in slow motion and stills which goes against the protocols as he should have been shown real time footage. Yes, in real time it looked like a foul but eyes weren’t looking for injury he was following the ball and was in front of Muharemovic the entire time. Right before the ball gets to Balogun there is a “hip” check from Muharemovic which does throw Balogun off balance and has him stepping on Muharemovic’s ankle. NOTHING intentional in the sequence at all, except maybe the hip check.

So was the VAR in the wrong to show this with no on field call, yes I believe so. Is this something that head referee should have known as well, yes. However, this is the World Cup and mistakes happen because we are all human. FIFA though needed to make a mends on this one as we have seen similar fouls go unpunished throughout the tournament to include Messi getting away with one.

This though isn’t the first time that FIFA has changed a stance, Cristiano Ronaldo shouldn’t have been allowed in the first two games of the tournament after receiving a red card and three game ban after a qualifier last year. FIFA though decided to reduce it to one match instead under Article 27 which allows FIFA to suspend a sanction and give a player a probationary period.

It seems that FIFA has decided to right their wrong on this one but not in the way we would have expected as they should have removed any sanctions at all from Balogun instead. This is where other teams are having a hard time understanding how it’s being handled, especially after American President Donald Trump spoke out saying he requested FIFA to review the suspension. With no clear explanation on the decision some might say that politics are controlling the game and potentially jeopardizing the integrity of not only this year’s World Cup but future international tournaments.

Photo Credit(Getty Images)

FIFA needs to come out and clear the air on this one and lay out why they decided to suspend the red card sanction on Balogun. Saying that by operation of Article 27, the suspension of Balogun is suspended for 1 year did nothing to explain why they decided to go forth with this decision. Why has no other red card during this World Cup (18 in total this year) receive this treatment. Are the co-hosts benefiting from unfair advantages? Will Belgium protest this as they are planning to challenge this ruling by any means and how could this shape up this match up in the round of 16. The next few hours will be interesting to see what comes from all of this.