Thomas Tuchel slams ‘strange’ FIFA decision: ‘I don’t know the rules’

England boss Thomas Tuchel has questioned the
‘strange’ decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s ban at the World Cup, joking that England should lobby Donald Trump to overturn Jarell Quansah’s ban.

Balogun was sent off in USA’s last 32 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina and was due to miss the last 16 clash with Belgium as a result.

However, FIFA decided to suspend his one-match ban after being contacted by the White House in an extraordinary move.

While many felt Balogun’s red card was harsh in the first place, the decision was not reversed on appeal, but the punishment just changed after political interference.

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As the Belgian Football Federation declared they were ‘astonished’ by the decision and that they were ‘investigating all potential options’ available to them, their manager Rudi Garcia slammed FIFA’s decision.

‘The federation does not defend itself, it does not defend the national team – it defends football in general,’ he said. ‘It defends its integrity. It defends its ethics.’

Tuchel has joined the critics of the Balogun move, questioning how anyone knows what can and cannot be overturned, when such a bizarre decision is made.

Speaking after England’s thrilling 3-2 win over Mexico on Sunday, Tuchel queried whether he could now get Declan Rice’s early yellow card wiped clear.

‘I think first of all, to be very clear, that it was not a red card,’ said Tuchel of Balogun’s dismissal. ‘But VAR got involved and obviously three people from VAR and the referee checked it and were of the opinion it is a yellow card so the decision is made.

‘Who overturns this decision and when and on what grounds? And how far does this go now? It is just strange for me. We just want to have consistency in the decisions.

‘So, is our yellow card after the first minute against Declan Rice… We can now debate endlessly. I think it is not a yellow card. Do we get this back? Does France get the yellow card back for [Michael] Olise [against Paraguay] which was not a yellow card?

‘Where does this end? I don’t know the rules. I am the wrong person to ask. I will wait and see what’s coming.’

Quansah was shown a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Jesus Gallardo during the win over Mexico, with VAR stepping in to alert the referee.

While there would be littlechance of getting the decision overturned, Tuchel says he no longer understands what the process is, after Balogun’s punishment was suspended.

‘Where does this start and where does this end now? Can we overturn it or not overturn it? What’s going on?’ Tuchel asked.

‘Where to draw the line is the question that I ask. I have no answer to that. Where does this end now? Do we appeal if a yellow card is not a yellow card. Do we think it is not a red card or who thinks it? Where does this start and where does this end?’

It was suggested to Tuchel that his captain could have an in with a man seemingly wielding influence on FIFA.

US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social: ‘Harry Kane of England is a GREAT player!!!’

It was put to the manager that perhaps Kane could lobby Trump to get Quansah’s ban suspended.

‘Maybe, that’s a good starting point,’ he joked.

England now move on to face Norway in the quarter-finals on Saturday night after Erling Haaland inspired a 2-0 win over Brazil on Sunday.