FIFA's controversial decision on Folarin Balogun 'really sucks', says Gary Neville


Gary Neville has criticized FIFA's unprecedented decision to postpone the one-match ban of striker Folarin Balogun, who will miss the round of 16 match against Belgium. ITV's Pundit said "this is absolutely terrible". Balogun was sent off during the US team's win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32, when he appeared to accidentally collide with defender Tarik Muharemovic. On Sunday, FIFA's disciplinary committee announced that it would apply article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary regulations to suspend red cards, meaning Balogun only faces a one-match ban if he commits a similar offense within the next 12 months. Donald Trump welcomed the news, writing on his Truth Social platform: "Thank you FIFA for doing the right thing and reversing a great injustice!" However, the Belgian Football Federation said it was "surprised" and would "investigate all potential options" in response. Discussing this news on ITV before Brazil's match against Norway, pundits condemned FIFA's intervention. "This is really bad," Neville said. "Let's be clear about that. But what I would say is that the worst thing is that there is no review process going on. I really don't think it's a red card, and I think there should be a process to allow it to be overturned. But if there's no process to overturn it, and then suddenly FIFA decides to allow a player to play, then the rules should be the same for everyone. I would be very angry if I were Belgium, and all the other teams in the tournament. there was a player sent off who probably felt this was too harsh. And you know what, are we surprised? A similar controversial decision occurred before the tournament, when Cristiano Ronaldo's red card was postponed, allowing him to play in Portugal's first match of the tournament. Ian Wright said: "We're talking about integrity, people are talking about transparency, but you look at some of the things that have happened in this tournament with some of the teams, it's a shame that these things can happen, especially to an American player, regardless of whether he's guilty or not of what he's done. Some of the things that have happened in this World Cup are shameful." "It seems unfair because it really is unfair," Roy Keane added. "It seems like this was an act of friends, so to speak."

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