The Fifa red card fiasco is a mirror for governance
When the world’s governing body for football appears willing to reinterpret its own rules, the issue extends far beyond sport
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FOOTBALL is often called the world’s game because its rules are universal. From a dusty village pitch to a World Cup final, players enter the game believing the same laws apply to everyone.
Referees may err, fortunes may swing on a deflection or a dubious offside call, but the integrity of the contest rests on a simple assumption: The rules are established before the match begins and remain unchanged until it ends.
That is why Fifa sparked global controversy when it rescinded US striker Folarin Balogun’s red card amid pressure from US President Donald Trump to review the decision. Fifa’s apparent willingness to suspend or reinterpret its own regulations deserves scrutiny, with implications far beyond the sporting world.
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