Fifa Cancels Automatic Ban After Red Card in Tournament Match

Fifa declined to enforce an automatic one-match ban on the U.S. striker sent off against Bosnia-Herzegovina, allowing him to play in the last-16 match against Belgium. Tournament rules state that a red card results in an automatic suspension from the team's next match.

Fifa enacted a clause in its disciplinary code that permits full or partial suspension of a disciplinary measure. This step directly contradicts the tournament regulations that mandate automatic suspension.

Background to the Decision The U.S. striker received a red card after his foot landed on the ankle of a Bosnia-Herzegovina player, causing it to buckle. Of the 188 other red cards issued at the tournament, only one other player has avoided suspension, and that case predates automatic bans.

Uefa, European football's governing body, said the decision to cancel the suspension crossed a red line and called it unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable. The Royal Belgian Football Association said it has no alternative but to challenge the player's eligibility and requested a copy of the decision along with an explanation of the process.

Fifa responded by treating the request as an appeal, appointed a judge and gave the association only a few hours' notice. Belgium's foreign minister said that if a phone call was the reason for the decision, it would be a blatant violation of the basic rules of football and sport.

The European Union's commissioner for sport stated that decisions on sport belong to sporting bodies, not politicians. " Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia said the situation made 5 July feel like 1 April and stated that the federation is defending football itself rather than any single team.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has established an ad hoc division to hear appeals against tournament decisions if Fifa stands by its ruling.