Olakunle Osisanya.
The recent FIFA suspension of a red card issued to US striker Folarin Balogun, at the ongoing FIFA World Cup, has elicited widespread reactions, prompting Belgium, their next opponents, to threaten, through the Royal Belgian Football Association RBFA, that they are exploring every avenue available, to see if they could challenge the decision, which they believe is to their detriment if allowed to stand. According to the Belgian authorities, there is no precedent for the FIFA action.
Meanwhile, football pundits around the world have been debating the merits and demerits of the decision. With some finding it justifiable, while others have expressed loud dissatisfaction with the decision. Especially a large army of persons who remain uncomfortable with the relationship between President Donald Trump, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, and believe that the US president instigated the FIFA reversal.
For record purposes, it is important to remind football fans that the Balogun red card reversal, is not the first case of a football governing body reversing a red card in a major football tournament. Avid African football followers would recall that in the semi final of the 2013 AFCON, hosted by South Africa, and which Nigeria eventually won, Jonathan Pitroipa of Burkina Faso, was issued a second yellow card for diving in the game against Ghana, and was then sent off, with the result that he would serve a further one match suspension, which would have been in the final, as Burkina Faso eventually defeated Ghana in that game.
Football followers would equally recall, that Pitroipa was the revelation of that tournament, and the livewire of the Burkinabe team. After due consideration by the CAF authorities, therefore, and in order to ensure that the final was a proper showcase of African football, and also in order to avoid a one-sided final match against Nigeria, Pitroipa’s one match suspension was unilaterally lifted by CAF.
Pitroipa was Consequently part of the final match against Nigeria, where the Super Eagles triumphed by 1-0 in a classic showcase of African football. It must be noted that the Nigeria Football Federation NFF, did not deem it necessary to challenge the CAF decision, possibly in the belief that their team was capable of handling the opposition, with or without Pitroipa. Which eventually became the case.
We remain vigilant and watchful to see if Belgium will lodge an official protest or not, and if they do, what the outcome would be. It is however necessary for record purposes, to remind football fans, that the Balogun scenario has a precedent.
Olakunle Osisanya who writes from Abuja, is a retired ACG of the Nigerian Immigration Service NIS. He could be reached at Olakunleosisanya@gmail.com
