FA considers enchantment over Jarell Quansah purple card after FIFA’s Balogun U-turn
Jarell Quansah was shown a red card in England’s 2-1 win over Mexico, but the FA are now considering their options over an appeal after FIFA’s controversial U-turn over Folarin Balogun’s ban
(Image: FIFA via Getty Images)
FA officials are “considering their options” regarding Jarell Quansah’s red card, following FIFA’s controversial U-turn over USA striker Folarin Balogun’s dismissal against Bosnia-Herzegovina last week.
The England defender was given a straight red against Mexico, ruling him out of Saturday’s quarter-final clash with Norway.
No direct appeals process exists at this World Cup, despite England manager Thomas Tuchel expressing his displeasure with the decision.
Yet the FA has witnessed Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban get suspended for 12 months following Trump’s intervention.
England would need to put forward compelling grounds for the ban to be lifted, which seemed highly unlikely until FIFA became involved in Balogun’s situation.
Now, however, the precedent has been set for other nations to pursue similar avenues, which is precisely why the FA is contemplating further action.
Quansah received his marching orders during Sunday’s match following a VAR review for a tackle on Mexico’s Jesus Gallardo.
The defender now faces a one-match suspension, meaning he will be unavailable for Saturday’s quarter-final showdown with Norway. Reflecting on Quansah’s sending off, ex-England stars Gary Neville and Ian Wright both concurred that the red card was warranted, but hinted that the FA should contest it in light of the Balogun reversal.
“It’s [Quansah’s] a red, but I think we should still appeal it because people are getting it overturned now,’ Wright shared with The Stick to Football podcast.
“If you look at Balogun’s one, Balogun isn’t going in to break his ankle. It’s just clumsy the way it’s happened.
“I think Quansah has gone over the ball a bit but like he [Balogun] has got away with it so why can’t England as this has opened up Pandora’s box.
“I think Keir Starmer makes a call and even [French President Emmanuel] Macron for [Michael] Olise [who was booked in France’s World Cup win against Paraguay ]. Make a call.”
Trump confirmed on Monday that he had personally requested FIFA president Gianni Infantino to “review” Balogun’s World Cup red card.
He stated: “I saw the play… that [challenge by Balogun] wasn’t a foul, that wasn’t even an infraction, that was two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other.
“These were two great athletes that got tangled up and this referee, who is a little bit suspect, if you check his past, he made a call that nobody could believe. He [Balogun] didn’t do anything wrong and he’s our best player, or one of our best players… and he [the referee] gave him a red card.
“It’s very unfair, you can’t do that. So, yes, I asked for a review by FIFA. I spoke to a man who’s highly respected [Infantino] and by the way, whose level of respect has gone up 10-fold.
“This game [against Belgium ] would have a big mark on it if we lost [without Balogun].
“No matter what happened, you have to let [teams] use their best players, and the game [against Belgium] is going to be amazing. And we’re going to have a full team, and Belgium is going to have a full team. And you know what? If [Belgium] beat us, then they can be really proud.
“The other way [with Balogun banned] – if they beat us, we’ll say it was… I’d say it was rigged, just like the election was rigged in 2020, but I won’t get into that.”
Hours prior to the United States’ Round of 16 encounter with Belgium, FIFA released a comprehensive statement from the disciplinary committee, confirming that Balogun has received a $40,000 fine regarding the red card incident.
The statement verified that the one-match ban for Balogun’s dismissal has been postponed by one year.
The disciplinary committee disclosed that Balogun had been examined by FIFA for two distinct violations: The dismissal itself, and subsequently for returning to the pitch to celebrate with his U.S. colleagues, “despite his expulsion.”
It remains unclear whether the fine concerns the original offence or the second.
