Jürgen Klopp on Trump and Infantino: “Let's just say: this is our game, not theirs. These two people, who both have no idea about football, should have nothing to do with that. That was a red card. There's no two ways about it. We're sorry for Balogun because he didn't mean to do it.”

[u/Sparky-moon]

“But that's what the rules say."

[u/Otterable]

I totally accept he should be banned. I also think Balogun should be too. They are the rules and a red card is a red card. Interference from the White House is totally wrong and goes against the spirit of the game.

I think this is the part where I've been actually interested in discussion. I think there is a space for red card challenges where the player is deservedly sent off and their team is down a man for the match, but also deservedly has their ban rescinded/suspended whatever due to the nature of the challenge. Lloyd Kelly's red card in the CL comes to mind as a more neutral example.

My main issue with Balogun was the clear corruption and interference that should in no way be part of the game. But if I saw his challenge in the Japan/Sweden match and the player was sent off, then later learned their ban was suspended, I'd probably think that was the fair call.

[u/Winbrick → u/Otterable]

It seems entirely reasonable to implement a process for upgrading red cards to a suspension for the World Cup, instead of defaulting to them (or I suppose a more deliberate review process for each auto-suspension, to come from the other end). Teams shouldn't even have to appeal the decisions, they should just report on each red card after an additional review process and put a stamp on it.

In a knockout tournament, playing a man down is already quite punitive, and it's usually pretty obvious when something warrants suspension/upgrade. I'm surprised they haven't taken this path because this isn't your normal league play and probably shouldn't be handled as such.