England manager Thomas Tuchel has questioned FIFA’s decision to overturn Folarin Balogun’s World Cup suspension, joking that the captain. Harry Kane he might have to call the president of the United States Donald Trump in an attempt to overturn Jarell Quansah’s red card.Tuchel’s comments came after FIFA invoked Article 27 of its disciplinary code to question the implementation of Balogun’s automatic one-match ban, making the United States striker available for Monday’s 16th match against Belgium. The decision followed reports that Trump had contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the dismissal.While Tuchel reiterated he did not believe Balogun deserved a red card, he questioned the process behind FIFA’s intervention and warned it could open the door to endless appeals over refereeing decisions.
Tuchel questions FIFA’s consistency
Speaking after England’s dramatic 3-2 win over Mexico, Tuchel said the issue was not whether Balogun’s tackle warranted a sending off, but how the decision was later overturned.“I think first of all, to be very clear, that it was not a red card,” said Tuchel. “But VAR got involved and obviously three people from VAR and the referee checked it and they were of the opinion that it was a yellow card so the decision was made.”READ ALSO: ‘Absolutely stinks’: Football world fumes over Donald Trump’s role in FIFA Balogun U-turnI then asked who had the authority to review the decision.“Who will announce this decision and when and on what grounds? And until when this now? It’s just strange to me,” he said.The England manager stressed that the biggest concern was consistency.“We just want to have consistency in decisions,” he also said.Tuchel pointed after other controversial bookings from the tournament.“So it’s our yellow card after the first minute against Declan Rice… We can now argue endlessly. I don’t think it’s a yellow card. Shall we bring this back? France gets a yellow card for Michael Olise that wasn’t a yellow card?” he asked. “Where does this end? I don’t know the rules. You are the wrong person to ask. I’ll wait and see what comes.”
Referee Alireza Faghani shows a red card to England’s Jarell Quansah, 26, during the World Cup Round of 16 match. (AP Photo)
Cheeky Trump jokes next Quansah red cardboard
Tuchel also couldn’t resist a light-hearted rant after reports emerged that Trump had spoken to FIFA president Gianni Infantino about Balogun’s suspension.After England’s win over Mexico, Trump praised Harry Kane on social media, calling the striker a “GREAT player”.When asked if Kane could now ask Trump to intervene over Quansah’s red card against Mexico, Tuchel smiled and replied: “Maybe, that’s a good starting point.”The England defender was sent off following a VAR review during the second half at the Estadio Azteca, leaving the Three Lions to play most of the match with 10 men before holding on for a famous victory.
“Where does this begin and where does this end?”
Tuchel has repeatedly returned to what he believes is the biggest problem created by FIFA’s decision.“Where does this begin and where does this end now? Can we announce it or not announce it? What’s going on?” I saidHe added: “Where to draw the line is the question I’m asking. I don’t have an answer to that.”The England boss concluded by asking whether any controversial disciplinary decision could now be open to appeal.“Where does this end now? We appeal if a yellow card is not a yellow card. We think it’s not a red card or who thinks? Where does this begin and where does it end?” he said.FIFA said Balogun’s suspension was deferred under Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, which allows the judicial body to suspend the implementation of a disciplinary sanction and place the player on a probationary period of one to four years.The decision makes Balogun, who scored three goals during the tournament, available as the United States bid to reach its first World Cup quarter-finals since 2002, but it has also sparked widespread debate.