England coach Thomas Tuchel questions FIFA’s decision to overturn Folarin Balogun’s World Cup ban and jokes about captain Harry Kane May need to call the President of the United States Donald Trump Trying to reverse Jarrell Quasa’s red card.Tuchel’s comments came after FIFA invoked Article 27 of its disciplinary code to suspend Balogun’s automatic ban, allowing the United States forward to take part in Monday’s last-16 clash with Belgium. The decision came after reports that Trump had informed FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the dismissal.While Tuchel reiterated that he did not believe Balogun should have been sent off, he questioned the process behind FIFA’s intervention and warned it could lead to endless appeals against the referee’s decision.
Tuchel questions FIFA’s consistency
After England’s dramatic 3-2 win over Mexico, Tuchel said the question was not whether Balogun’s tackle deserved to be sent off, but how the decision was later overturned.“I think the first thing to be very clear about is that this is not a red card,” Tuchel said. “But VAR got involved and obviously three people from VAR and the referee checked it and thought it was a yellow card so the decision was made.”Also read: ‘This absolutely stinks’: Football world erupts over Donald Trump’s role in Balogun red card U-turn at FIFAHe then questioned who had the authority to review the decision.“Who overturned the decision? When and for what reasons did it overturn? How far along is it now? That’s weird to me,” he said.The England manager stressed that the biggest concern was stability.“We just want the decision-making to be consistent,” he further said.Tuchel then pointed out other controversial yellow cards in the game.“So, we got a yellow card after the first minute against Declan Rice… We could argue endlessly now. I don’t think it’s a yellow card. Can we get this back? Will France take back a yellow card for Michael Aulis that was not a yellow card? he questioned. “Where does this end?” I don’t know the rules. I asked the wrong person. I’ll wait and see what happens. “
Referee Alireza Faghani issued a red card to 26-year-old England player Jarell Quansah during the World Cup last-16 match. (AP Photo)
Trump’s cheeky joke kwanza red card
Tuchel also couldn’t resist a light-hearted dig after reports emerged that Trump had spoken to FIFA president Gianni Infantino about Balogun’s suspension.Trump praised Harry Kane on social media after England’s win over Mexico, calling the striker a “great player”.Asked whether Kane could now ask Trump to intervene in 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 in the second half at the Estadio Azteca, leaving the Three Lions to play with a 10-man squad for much of the victory before retaining a notable player.
“Where does this begin and where does it end?”
Tuchel has repeatedly spoken about what he sees as the larger problems caused by the FIFA ruling.“Now where does it begin and where does it end? Can we overturn it or not? What is going on?” he said.He added: “The question I ask is, where is the line? I don’t have an answer to that.”The England manager ended by questioning whether every controversial disciplinary decision can now be appealed.“Where does it all end now? If the yellow card is not a yellow card, will we appeal? Do we think this is not a red card or who does? Where does this begin and where does it end? ” he said.FIFA said Balogun’s suspension was postponed under Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, which allows judicial bodies to suspend disciplinary proceedings and place the player on a probation period of one to four years.The ruling allowed Balogun, who scored three goals at this World Cup, to play in the U.S.’s first World Cup quarterfinals since 2002, but it also sparked widespread debate.
