New Delhi, July 3: European football body UEFA has hit out at the world soccer body, FIFA, over the abrupt decision to suspend US striker Folarin Balogun’s red-card ban after the game against Bosnia & Herzegovina in the round of 32. The matter blew out of proportion after President Donald Trump urged FIFA to review the case against the American striker, blurring the line between sports and politics.

In an official statement, UEFA said-

“Football, like any other sport, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest, and transparent competition. Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case, not. A minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted.”

According to the European football association, the rule is a fundamental principle enshrined in the regulations. It cannot be subject to exceptions, especially in the middle of a tournament when several other players in similar situations have duly served their suspensions.

It further stated that when the certainty and consistent application of the rules are no longer upheld by those responsible for enforcing them, the integrity of the game is put at risk and the credibility of the competition is weakened. The decision also sets a precedent for the remainder of the tournament, meaning similar cases would now have to be treated in the same manner, potentially affecting the fairness of the competition.

Football is the world’s most popular sport because of its universal appeal and the trust it commands through the consistent application of the same laws across every level of the game. No tournament exists in isolation, and when that tournament is the FIFA World Cup, the decisions made during it can have far-reaching positive or negative consequences for football as a whole.

We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.