‘Rules apply equally’: After Donald Trump’s Balogun intervention, British MP urges FIFA to delay England player’s red card suspension | Football news


England’s Jarell Quansah (26) leaves the field after receiving a red card during the U16 soccer match between Mexico and England (left); and Folarin Balogun (20) failed the Bosnian Tarik Muharemovic (4).

British Member of Parliament Noah Law has urged FIFA president Gianni Infantino to delay the suspension of England defender Jarell Quansah, arguing he should be allowed to play in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway.Quansah was sent off in the second half of England’s last 16 match against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca after a sliding tackle on Jesus Gallardo. England led 2-1 at the time, with Jude Bellingham scoring both goals in the first half.In a letter to Infantino, Law said Quansah deserved the red card but questioned why England should not receive the same treatment FIFA gave USA striker Folarin Balogun.“While I think it was fair for Jarell Quansah to receive this red card and that the refereeing rules should be applied consistently, I believe it would be fair to delay his suspension until the end of this World Cup,” Noah Law wrote in a letter to Infantino.The law referred to FIFA’s decision to lift Balogun’s one-match suspension after the United States striker was sent off against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32. Balogun had received an automatic one-game ban after being shown a red card for awkwardly kicking Tarik Muharemovic’s right ankle during the United States’ 2-0 win.US President Donald Trump later asked FIFA to review the decision and allow Balogun to play against Belgium. FIFA lifted the suspension on Sunday, making him available for the Round of 16 match.“We know a similar situation arose earlier in the competition when USA striker Folarin Balogun received a red card during the Round of 32. The integrity of any major international tournament depends not only on the players and officials adhering to the rules, but also on the rules being applied equally to all participating nations. I am certain that we cannot justify a situation in which one player benefits from a delayed suspension while another, in materially similar circumstances, does not,” Law said in his statement.FIFA’s stunning decision has irked the host country’s next World Cup opponent, Belgium. It also sent soccer fans — and political leaders — around the world into a frenzy over the influence President Donald Trump might have had over the rare record.



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