World Cup: FIFA Overturns Balogun Suspension

Is this the right call or does it undermine the integrity of the World Cup?

Published JUL 6

World Cup: FIFA Overturns Balogun Suspension

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Above: Folarin Balogun celebrates a goal in Santa Clara on July 1. Image credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

FIFA made the right call lifting Balogun's red card suspension. What happened against Bosnia didn't come close to meeting the standard for a red-card offense, as there was no violent conduct or serious foul play. Keeping a player out of a knockout round game over a call that clearly didn't warrant ejection would've been the real injustice.

American Thinker Time

Narrative B

This decision is a blatant breach of its own rulebook. Automatic minimum one-game bans following a red card is a principle embedded in regulations that should accept no exceptions. Every other team at this tournament has played by those rules. Overriding them for one country torches the credibility of the entire competition and the integrity of the game.

Independent UEFA.com