Italian soccer chief blasts FIFA's Balogun reprieve as 'absurd'

Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC)

President Giovanni Malagò has joined the international outcry at

FIFA's decision to suspend United States forward Folarin

Balogun's automatic ban for a red card, enabling him to play in

his country's World Cup last 16 clash with Belgium.

"It's a strange story; it seems absurd to me," Malagò told Rai

radio.

"I looked into this Article 27 they're talking about,

which—thank goodness—can't be applied to the national leagues;

otherwise, it would be Armageddon," he added, referring to the

regulation used to suspend the red card Balogun was given in the

2-0 win over Bosnia in the last 32.

"There's no point in beating around the bush—it's a decision

that clearly has political overtones," he added, amid reports US

President Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino

calling on him to have the ban overturned.

"It's an extremely dangerous precedent; I hope they realize

that,

"I'm all for this World Cup with packed stadiums and lots of

enthusiasm, but when you see a decision like this, it undermines

the meritocracy that is at the base of soccer."

Infantino is an ardent admirer of Trump's and gave him FIFA's

inaugural 'peace prize' last December.

Related stories