The last may not have been heard about the controversial red card saga involving USA’s Nigerian-born striker, Folarin Balogun at the ongoing FIFA World Cup, where latest reports indicate he has been fined $40,000 ‘for entering the field to celebrate with his teammates after their victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Sports247 reports that, while many football lovers condemned FIFA for overtuning the red card Balogun was issued during that game, which Team USA still won 2-0 to reach the rojund of 16, the AS Monaco of France hitman and former Arsenal of England rookie did not come out fully unscathed.
The fine was announced few hours after FIFA confirmed that Balogun normally would have served the one-match suspension, which initially ruled him out of Monday’s game, but that the disciplinary committee applied Article 27, which provides the global body with discretion to alter disciplinary measures.
However, the suspended sentence means Balogun still has to face a year of probation and, if he commits a similar infringement, gets another red card or makes any violation of the rules during that period, the one-game ban will be added to whatever punishment he’s given for the new infringement.
Nonetheless, while FIFA’s u-turn on the red card allowed Balogun to feature in Monday’s clash with Belgium, he could not make any difference during the game, as his side lost 4-1 and became the last of the three co-hosts to crash out of this year’s expanded competition,
A report by Yahoo Sports revealed: “The saga around Folarin Balogun’s red card continued on Monday afternoon. Hours before the United States’ matchup against Belgium, FIFA released a lengthy statement from the disciplinary committee, announcing that Balogun has been fined $40,000.
“The statement confirmed that the one-match suspension for Balogun’s red card, which the striker picked up the game against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32, has been delayed by one year. Per FIFA, the team was informed of both the fine and the suspension on Sunday.
“The disciplinary committee said that Balogun had been investigated by FIFA for two offenses: the red card and then for re-entering the field to celebrate with his US teammates, ‘despite his expulsion.’ The committee then found him guilty of both infringements.”
Sports247 gathered further that FIFA charged Balogun along with United States Soccer Federation (USSF), which was declared ‘jointly liable’ to pay up the fine, which means the striker will likely not pay the full cost of the penalty all by himself.
