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.

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