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Jürgen Klopp has spoken out against FIFA's decision to suspend U.S. Men's National Team striker Folarin Balogun's ban -Credit:MAURO PIMENTEL / AFP via Getty Images
Jürgen Klopp has responded with fury after it emerged that U.S. Men’s National Team forward Folarin Balogun’s red card ban had been suspended at the last moment by FIFA, with President Donald Trump having contacted the governing body of global soccer’s president, Gianni Infantino, to plead the star’s innocence.
During the Round of 32 game between the USMNT and Bosnia and Herzegovina, after Balogun had scored the sole goal and had another disallowed, the AS Monaco star went in and challenged defender Tarik Muharemovic for the ball, catching his calf and ankle in the process.
The incident left the Bosnian on the turf whilst play initially carried on, before referee Rafael Claus was eventually summoned by VAR to revisit the incident on the pitchside screen in slow motion.
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U.S. President Donald Trump contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino ahead of Balogun's ban being suspended -Credit:Shawn Thew/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Whilst clearly accidental, the slow-motion footage made for a grim watch, prompting Claus to give Balogun a straight red card, automatically handing him a one-game ban in the process.
Days later, Balogun stated, “It's important for me to say, obviously, first and foremost, it was totally unintentional, which I'm sure a lot of people know,” he told reporters. “I think the choice of the referee was, of course, his choice, but I don't think it was the correct call.
“I think a yellow card would have been fair just due to it not being intentional. And also, there's not many places I can place my foot in such a scenario. But I think it's happened, and it's something I have to accept and just move forward from.”
However, it appears that whilst Balogun was ready to move on, others were not. On July 5, it was announced that FIFA had suspended the former Arsenal star’s ban for a year, blindsiding coaches, media, and fans alike.
Infantino later released a statement following a great deal of criticism. In the statement, he confirmed that he had discussed the matter previously with President Trump, a close friend of his, whom he awarded the controversial inaugural Peace Prize last fall.
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What’s more, Infantino insisted that FIFA’s decision was not influenced by any outside parties and that the organization remains “independent.”
Regardless, damage to FIFA’s reputation appears to have been done, with many high-ranking coaches speaking out.
Among those seemingly unimpressed by the whole situation was soon-to-be Germany boss Klopp, who has been working as an analyst for Magenta TV during the tournament.
“Let’s just say: this is our game, not theirs. These two people, who both have no idea about football, should have nothing to do with that,” he said, prior to confirmation that Trump and Infantino had spoken.
“That was a red card, there’s no two ways about it. We’re sorry for Balogun because he didn’t mean to do it, but that’s what the rules say.”
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Balogun can now play in the USMNT's Round of 16 game against Belgium on Monday -Credit:Sarah Stier - FIFA, FIFA via Getty Images
But Klopp was far from the only senior figure in soccer to voice his anger at the situation, with the Royal Belgian Football Association appealing FIFA’s ruling, only for it to be denied.
Speaking on Sunday, Belgium boss Rudi Garcia commented, “I didn't know that at the World Cup, the 5th of July is actually the first of April.”
Elsewhere, after Norway booked its spot in the quarterfinals, head coach Ståle Solbakken said of the situation, via SI, “I have to be honest, it was a big mistake by FIFA. It’s not a good decision. He got a red card, VAR concluded that it was red. Then you’re suspended.
“The bad thing here is that if the U.S. beats Belgium, it will always be there. If he scores, the Belgians will be furious. What about the next red card? Is there a committee somewhere that will take it away? It’s a bad, bad, bad, bad, bad decision that is hurting the World Cup.
“I feel sorry for the U.S. If they win, it will always be brought up. It’s not good for the sport. Bad decision by FIFA.”
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Meanwhile, England boss Thomas Tuchel, whose side will face Norway in the next round, said via The Mirror, "Where does it start and where does it end? Can we overturn it (Jarrel Quansah's red card against Mexico)?"
The German tactician went on to say, “First of all, to be very clear, that it was not the AI in the referee check that burdened the opinion that it was the red card.
“So it's the decisions made. Who overturns this decision and when? And what from? It's just strange to me. We just want enough consistency in the decisions.”
In the aftermath of a decision even USMNT legend Brad Friedel took issue with, it has already been confirmed that the French Football Federation is appealing to have Michael Olise’s yellow card from their game against Paraguay overturned, whilst British MP Noah Law has also requested that Quansah’s suspension be overruled.
The USMNT, likely with Balogun leading the attack, will take on Belgium for a spot in the quarterfinals on Monday, 8pm ET, at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.
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