FIFA Makes Good And Right And Not At All Corrupt Decision To Rescind Folarin Balogun’s Red Card Suspension

The USMNT was the talk of the soccer world in the aftermath of its triumph over Bosnia and Herzegovina last Wednesday. Most of the conversation was about the latest amazing U.S. performance in a tournament full of them, and the growing consensus that the Americans should be considered overwhelming favorites to go ahead and win the World Cup. However, a sizable portion of the discussion also centered on the referee’s scandalous decision to show U.S. striker Folarin Balogun a totally unfair red card for an accidental challenge. The brave Americans were prepared to suffer this miscarriage of justice in dignified silence, and to face Belgium without Balogun. Thankfully, FIFA, an organization known for its commitment to fairness and ethics, stepped in on Sunday and suspended Balogun’s one-game suspension.

To a small, blinkered minority, FIFA’s action smacks of favoritism and corruption. “What they hell!” you might hear one such person say, in a suspiciously French-ish or Dutch-ish accent. “They can’t do that! The guy got a red card, he has to pay the price!” Ah, but surely this person will admit—or would admit, if they weren’t blinded by impotent rage over the Americans’ impending ticker-tape parade—that the initial call on the field was completely fraudulent, both on the merits and procedurally.