Fifa’s decision to overturn Folarin Balogun‘s red card suspension upsets everyone

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Uefa has criticised Fifa’s decision to effectively overturn American striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban, describing it as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable”. Balogun, who was the US’s top scorer at the World Cup, was sent off against Bosnia-Herzegovina and should have missed the US’s next match – last night’s last-16 game against Belgium. But Fifa suspended the red card for a year after Donald Trump lobbied for a review. The US president called the decision “horrible” and questioned the integrity of the referee, but said he did not influence Fifa’s decision. It appears to have broken Fifa’s rules, which say a red card triggers a one-game suspension and cannot be appealed. The only other time a World Cup suspension has been rescinded was in 1962, when Brazil’s Garrincha was allowed to play in the final after being sent off in the semi-final. Fifa head Gianni Infantino faces calls to resign. Balogun started on the pitch last night. Belgium won 4-1.