Trump has lifted the suspension of an American football player at the World Cup. What the media is writing
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- Trump has lifted the suspension of an American football player at the World Cup. What the media is writing
A scandal broke out at the FIFA World Cup over the decision to cancel the disqualification of American football player Folarin Balogun, because of which he had to miss the match of the 1/8 finals between the USA and Belgium. Sources said that US President Donald Trump asked to return the striker to the field. For this, the same legal ploy was used that allowed Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo to play. How the world's media react to what happened is in the Izvestia article.
The Washington Post: Trump called on FIFA to reconsider Balogun's disqualification
Folarin Balogun, the top scorer of the U.S. men's national soccer team at the current World Cup, will be able to participate in the long-awaited match against Belgium on July 6. The day before, the International Football Federation (FIFA) announced the suspension of his one-match suspension due to a red card in the match of the 1/16 finals. The unexpected news came a few days after President Donald Trump, in a conversation with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, called on the global soccer organization to reconsider Balogun's suspension.
The Washington Post
The decision made on the eve of the 1/8 World Cup finals match in the USA caused an immediate resonance in the football world. The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was "amazed" and that it was "exploring all possible options" to "protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport." The intervention of the head of state in a disciplinary matter involving football involving a top FIFA official is highly unusual, and Trump's involvement adds a significant political dimension to a decision that was already of great importance to the American team's competition.
According to one source, Trump sought an explanation for the red card and subsequent suspension, and administration officials also provided additional evidence for consideration by the FIFA board. On the afternoon of July 5, Trump wrote on social media: "Thank you to FIFA for doing the right thing and undoing a great injustice!" This decision changes the course of the match for the Americans, who were preparing for the opportunity to face one of the best teams in Europe without a striker who strengthened their attack. Balogun received a red card in the USA's match against Bosnia and Herzegovina last week, which usually results in an automatic one-game suspension.
The Guardian: how FIFA lifted Balogun's suspension
FIFA's Disciplinary Code does not allow direct red cards to be appealed, and representatives of the world governing body and the United States Soccer Federation confirmed after the game that this decision could not be appealed. However, FIFA announced that, according to article 27 of the disciplinary code, the suspension would be lifted, although the red card would remain on Balogun's record for a one-year probation period. If Balogun commits "another violation of a similar nature and severity," he will serve a one-match suspension.
The Guardian
Article 27 states that the FIFA Judicial Committee has the right to "suspend the execution of a disciplinary measure in whole or in part," which, in fact, gives it the right to veto judicial decisions. The previously little-known article 27 has already had an impact on the World Cup: FIFA used this clause to allow Cristiano Ronaldo to play in the first two matches of the tournament. The Portuguese striker initially received a three-match suspension after being sent off in a qualifying match against Ireland last November.
The 41-year-old's suspension was reduced to one match, which he served in another qualifying match against Armenia, which allowed him to participate in the first matches of the World Cup group stage against the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uzbekistan. A week before the suspension was lifted, Ronaldo was Trump's guest at the White House.
Politico: details of the White House's efforts to bring Balogun back to the field
The campaign to keep Balogun on the U.S. national team at the World Cup began just minutes after the team's top scorer received a red card that put him out of action for the next match. After the victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House World Cup task force, warned Trump about punishing Balogun for a reckless tackle.
Politico
Trump and Giuliani have been in regular contact about the World Cup for several months. During the tournament's planning phase, the president often received briefings on the logistics, security, and prospects of the American team. After the start of the competition in mid-June, these conversations became more frequent and began to be held several times a week. By the evening of [July 1], the White House had decided to take action in connection with Balogun's red card, which some football analysts considered a severe punishment for the violation.
After that, four days of coordinated lobbying, legal maneuvers and diplomacy began, which stretched from the Oval Office to FIFA headquarters in Zurich. On July 2, Trump called Infantino. Trump asked FIFA's rules regarding the red card decision and the grounds for disqualification. Infantino listened attentively, but made no promises about the outcome of the case. It quickly passed through FIFA's legal and disciplinary channels. Emilio Garcia, who oversees the organization's legal affairs, became a central figure in advising Infantino on the options available.
Reuters: Trump's intervention provoked a scandal at the World Cup
In a matter of minutes, the decision to lift Balogun's suspension sparked one of the biggest media storms of the tournament, dominating sports news and talk shows where pundits, commentators and former players debate whether FIFA acted fairly or undermined its own rules. England head coach Thomas Tuchel said that, in his opinion, Balogun did not deserve a red card, but questioned the decision to suspend his punishment, given that in the 1/8 finals match against Mexico, his defender Jarrell Kuansa was removed from the field.
Reuters
"First of all, I want to make it clear: this is not a red card (for Balogun). But the VAR system intervened, and three VAR specialists checked the situation and came to the conclusion that this was a red card. So the decision has been made," Tuchel told reporters at the Azteca Stadium. — Who will reverse this decision and when? And on what grounds? How far will it go? It's weird for me... Where does it start and how does it end?"
The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was "amazed" by FIFA's decision. Her statement says that it directly contradicts the provisions of the tournament regulations. Its article 10.5 states that if a player or a team representative is removed from the field as a result of a direct or indirect red card, they are automatically suspended from participating in their team's next match.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
