“Same rules apply”. After Donald Trump’s intervention on Balogun, UK 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 round of 16 soccer match between Mexico and England (left); and Folarin Balogun (20) fouled Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic (4).

A British Member of Parliament, Noah Law, urged FIFA president Gianni Infantino to delay the suspension of England defender Jarell Quansah, arguing that 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 round-of-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 a red card but questioned why England could not receive the same treatment FIFA gave United States forward Folarin Balogun.“While I believe it is right for Jarell Quansah to receive this red card and that the referee’s rules should always be enforced, I believe it is right to delay his suspension until after the World Cup,” Noah Law wrote to Infantino.The law refers to FIFA’s decision to lift Balogun’s one-game suspension after the United States forward was sent off against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32. Balogun received an automatic one-game ban after being shown a red card for awkwardly stepping on 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 United States forward Folarin Balogun received a red card in the Round of 32. The integrity of any major international tournament depends not only on the players and officials following the rules, but also on the rules being applied equally to all participating countries. I am sure that we cannot justify a situation where one player benefits from a delayed suspension while another, in the same material circumstances, does not,” Law said in his statement.FIFA’s extraordinary decision killed the next opponent of the host country of the World Cup, Belgium. It also sent football fans — and political leaders — around the world into a frenzy over the influence President Donald Trump could have on the unusual decision.



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