Masters, Webb criticise FIFA over Balogun red card controversy

USA striker Folarin Balogun had a red card suspended at the World Cup; it caused huge controversy after Donald Trump had called Gianni Infantino ahead of the last 32 match against Belgium; Balogun was sent off against Bosnia & Herzegovina and was suspended for two games

Two of the most powerful men in English football have joined forces to hit out at FIFA and the U-turn which allowed USA striker Folarin Balogun to play on at the World Cup last month, despite the red card which should have led to an automatic ban.

Richard Masters , the chief executive of the Premier League and Howard Webb , the chief refereeing officer in England, say the decision undermines faith in football at all levels of the game.

Balogun was sent off in the last 32 match against Bosnia & Herzegovina which led to an automatic ban under World Cup rules, without the opportunity for appeal, or for the ban to be reduced.

However, US president Donald Trump then called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to complain, which led to the decision being overturned and Balogun was allowed to play against Belgium in the last 16.

Webb said: "I was really troubled by it. I don't know the ins and outs of the process, but what we know is: a red card was shown. You can form an opinion about the validity of the red card, I can understand why it was given.

"We know that there was pressure placed by a politician onto FIFA, because that was admitted. We know that the suspension was taken away for that particular tournament, and suspended, through a process which seemingly didn't exist before the tournament started.

"Decisions that had been taken previously were viewed as correct or incorrect, based on your judgement. Far too often now, decisions are viewed as correct or corrupt by people who want to type all over social media.

"They try to draw inferences around decisions they don't agree with and what the motivation is behind that decision. But that is borne out of no fact, no evidence.

"And when you get that situation, it opens up the space for people to think 'this sort of thing is happening all the time behind the scenes' - and it's not."

He said: "We should be looking back on the World Cup, the football that was played, Spain being the best team, and England's agonising semi-final defeat. But we're not, we are talking about other issues, and that's a huge shame.

"The Balogun issue stands alone in that isolated incident which is very difficult to comprehend when you look at it. I think it is, again, a self-inflicted moment (by FIFA).

"Why do FIFA not have a red card review process like the one that exists in many other leagues, including the Premier League, where if there has been a miscarriage of justice - not that I'm saying Balogun's red card was a miscarriage of justice - but it can be dealt with on that basis, rather than use a system which is only about the length of suspension which there is no option to overturn?

Masters went on to say that he hopes the Balogun controversy will not undermine confidence in referees and the disciplinary process in the Premier League, insisting the competition is completely honest and legitimate.