WORLD CUP RED-CARD DECISION FOR BALOGUN, QUANSAH RAISE QUEATIONS AMONG EX-FIFA REFEREES

England's Jarell Quansah, U.S. striker Folarin Balogun get different fates after respective red cards

Folarin Balogun, right, of the United States fouls Bosnia's Tarik Muharemović, resulting in a red card for Balogun during their World Cup soccer match in California on July 1. (Jeff Chiu/The Associated Press)

FIFA's handling of two World Cup red-card cases came under renewed scrutiny on Thursday after England defender Jarell Quansah got a two-match suspension while U.S. striker Folarin Balogun avoided an immediate ban for a similar challenge.

That has left former international referees unable to reconcile the ‌two decisions.

Quansah was sent off in England's last round-of-16 victory over Mexico after a video review deemed his sliding studs-up challenge serious foul play. He was later handed a two-match ban that England's Football Association said it could not appeal.

Balogun, by contrast, was sent off during the United States' round-of-32 win over Bosnia but received a one-match suspension that world soccer's governing body FIFA later suspended.

Balogun's ban was suspended on probation for one year under Article 27 of the disciplinary code, FIFA said, although it has not publicly explained why it considered that sanction appropriate in his case.

The fact that U.S. President Donald Trump had personally urged FIFA President ⁠Gianni Infantino to review Balogun's ⁠case only intensified the controversy, even though FIFA insisted the ‌conversation played no part in its decision.

"FIFA have failed in their duty towards the game after they delayed the ban for Balogun. They allowed outside interference by the president," former referee Keith Hackett wrote on social media on Thursday.

"FIFA the major lawmaker are at fault. But both players committed Serious ⁠Foul Play challenges sanctioned by a red card."

'More important always is consistency'

Jonas Eriksson, who was a FIFA referee for 16 years from 2002, said if Balogun got a one-match suspension, Quansah should have as well, seeing their two on-field incidents were roughly equal in ‌terms of intensity and aggression.

"What everyone wants from referees, they want the correct decisions, yes, but more important always is consistency," Eriksson said.

"That you identify, OK, player A gets the same sanction as player B. Team A gets the same sanction as team B. You know, that's what you expect. And this is not the case when it comes to Quansah and Balogun."

Quansah leaves the field after receiving a red card during the World Cup match between Mexico and England in Mexico City on Sunday. (Ricardo Mazalan/The Associated Press)

British media quickly drew comparisons between the two cases, with The Independent running the headline: "FIFA ⁠confirms Jarell Quansah ban just days after Folarin Balogun reprieve."

Eriksson said the subsequent suspension of Balogun's match ban was ⁠never adequately explained, contributing to the furor.

Belgium unsuccessfully challenged Balogun's eligibility before their round-of-16 victory over the U.S., ⁠but ⁠FIFA has still not publicly explained why it decided to suspend the striker's ban under Article 27.

"If you're not able to communicate how they interpret the situation — was it an incorrect decision of the ⁠referee or was it the wrong application of the laws of the game — we don't know," said Eriksson, whose book House of Cards explores the "dirty game behind the game" for FIFA referees.

"It's just for you and me and for everybody else to guess. But with that in mind, the red card for Quansah and the suspension is for me, just, it's a mystery."

- Thompson Reuters 

NEW WORLD CUP CLIP SHOWS EGYPT COACH SCREAMING IN SCALONU'S FACE AS ARGENTINA BOSS REFUSES TO REACT AFTER VAR STORM

The footage adds another chapter to one of the tournament's most controversial matches.

The controversy surrounding Argentina's dramatic 3-2 victory over Egypt in the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup continues to produce fresh flashpoints. A day after the VAR decisions in Atlanta sparked accusations of bias and prompted an official complaint from the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), a fresh video surfaced on social media showing just how heated emotions remained after the final whistle.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan looks dejected after the match following their elimination from the World Cup (REUTERS)

In the clip, which quickly went viral, furious members of Egypt's coaching staff are seen confronting match officials inside the tunnel after the game. Moments later, as Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni walked towards the dressing room at Atlanta Stadium, Egypt boss Hossam Hassan appeared to scream animatedly in his direction. Scaloni, however, simply walked past without engaging, barely acknowledging the confrontation.

The footage adds another chapter to 🕐 of the tournament's most controversial matches. Argentina recovered from 2-0 down to score three goals in the final 13 minutes and book their place in the quarterfinals, but the refereeing decisions have continued to dominate the post-match narrative.

What happened?

Egypt thought they had doubled their lead in the 58th minute when Mostafa Ziko finished off a brilliant counterattack after excellent work from Mohamed Salah. However, VAR intervened and ruled out the goal for a foul by Marwan Attia on Lisandro Martínez nearly 100 yards from the Argentina goal during the attacking build-up.

While the decision left Egypt furious, what angered them even more was the perceived inconsistency in the use of VAR. Moments before Enzo Fernández scored Argentina's winner, Egypt appealed for a penalty after Salah went down inside the box following slight contact on his boot, but the incident was not reviewed.

After the match, Ziko vented his frustration while speaking to TSN through a translator.

"It was not fair from the referee. It was really not fair. That was very clear. He wasted all of our efforts with his decisions. We were leading 2-0 and we could do nothing. It's all up to God.

"We are so sorry. We wanted to make you all happy. It was not on the cards. It was the referee. Congratulations to Argentina on the second Cup."

Egypt's protests did not end there. On Wednesday, the Egyptian Football Association lodged an official complaint with FIFA against referee François Letexier and his officiating team, reportedly seeking explanations for the controversial decisions, calling for an investigation into the match, and requesting that the French referee be removed from the remainder of the World Cup.

- Aratrick Mondal

TELEGRAPH VIEW GIANNI INFANTINO MUST GO

The Fifa president has further diminished the reputation of an organisation that had already become a byword for sleaze

Millions of England football fans will have woken bleary-eyed today after spending the small hours watching the national team defeat Mexico in the cauldron of their legendary stadium, the Azteca. Now, Norway awaits in the quarter finals as the country begins once again to tempt fate by believing the first World Cup triumph in 60 years is on the cards.

The win this morning was all the more remarkable given that England were reduced to 10 men for a quarter of the game after their defender Jarell Quansah was sent off. The rules dictate that he will miss at least the next game and maybe more for a reckless challenge.

But it would appear these rules are not hard and fast. Folarin Balogun, a US striker rated among the team’s best players, was shown a red card in the host’s last match, yet he will be available to play in the quarter finals against Belgium. Why? Because President Trump contacted Gianni Infantino, the Fifa president, and secured his agreement to lift what should be an automatic one-match ban. No reasonable explanation for the move was provided. Mr Trump boasted openly about his influence and thanked Fifa for “reversing a great injustice”.

But if the ban can be lifted for Balogun why not for Quansah? This show of apparent favouritism to the host country is astonishing; others are entitled to demand similar treatment. Moreover, what if Balogun now scores the winner against Belgium?

So far it has been a great tournament with packed stadiums, excellent football and several upsets, not least Brazil’s elimination at the hands of the Norwegians. But this scandal threatens to tarnish what might otherwise have been a signal success for America. Mr Infantino has further diminished the reputation of an organisation that had already become a byword for sleaze under his predecessor Sepp Blatter. He should resign.

- Telegraph View

FIFA CONTINUED CRITICISM OF OFFICIATING HAS ONE MORE AS ALL ARGENTINA MATCH OFFICIALS SELECTED FOR FRANCE VS. MOROCCO

 

FIFA are facing a new storm with their match officials selection for France’s next match against Morocco causing a stir.

That’s because the referee Facundo Tello, and his three assistants, are all Argentinian.

France are arguably Argentina’s biggest rivals to win the World Cup and many believe it is an outrage that FIFA has selected Tello and co.

IAN WRIGHT SAYS ARGENTINA'S SECOND GOAL SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISALLOWED