Joseph Blatter, the former President of FIFA, has sounded off on the decision to overturn Folarin Balogun's red card, heading into Monday night's Round of 16 game in Seattle, Washington.
The U.S. are getting Balogun back for Monday night. Balogun, the team's top goal scorer, was hit with a devastating - and highly controversial - red card in the Round of 32 win over Bosnia. Balogun was set to miss Monday night's game, until FIFA decided to suspend his red card, making him eligible.
“By operation of Article 27 FDC, the implementation of the automatic match suspension for USA player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year," FIFA announced.
© Phil Noble-Reuters via Imagn Images.
Belgium has filed an official appeal and UEFA has released a scathing statement, criticizing the decision.
"Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition," UEFA said. "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. It is a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension."
Blatter, 90, sounded off on the decision, too.
Ex-FIFA president accuses U.S. of getting preferential treatment
Blatter, one of the most controversial figures in soccer history, is sounding off on the decision.
"Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies. If a U.S. President intervenes with the FIFA President — and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match — the question is unavoidable: Quo vadis, FIFA? Football must never become a playground for political power," he wrote.
ESPN writer Dan Wetzel isn't having it, though.
Kickoff on Monday night is set for 8 p.m. E.T.
It'll air on FOX.
