Thomas Tuchel has added his voice to the growing criticism of FIFA’s handling of Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension.
The England manager was speaking after his side’s dramatic 3-2 World Cup win over Mexico, a match in which defender Jarell Quansah was sent off following a VAR review.
That decision left England playing much of the second half with 10 men. But it also came shortly after FIFA had suspended Balogun’s one-match ban, allowing the United States striker to face Belgium in the last 16.
According to The Times of India, Tuchel was asked whether Harry Kane should now contact U.S. President Donald Trump for help over Quansah’s red card.
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“Maybe, that’s a good starting point,” Tuchel replied.
Tuchel asks where the line is
Tuchel made clear that his main issue was not only Balogun’s original red card.
He said he did not believe the United States forward should have been sent off against Bosnia-Herzegovina, but questioned why FIFA was able to intervene afterwards when the usual disciplinary process had already started.
“I think first of all, to be very clear, that it was not a red card,” Tuchel said, according to The Times of India.
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He then pointed to the problem created by the ruling.
“Who overturns this decision and when and on what grounds? And how far does this go now? It is just strange for me,” he said.
For Tuchel, the concern is consistency.
If Balogun’s suspension can be suspended after a match, he asked whether other decisions from the tournament should now also be revisited.
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“Where does this end?”
The England coach mentioned other disciplinary calls, including Declan Rice’s early yellow card and Michael Olise’s booking for France.
“So, is our yellow card after the first minute against Declan Rice… We can now debate endlessly,” Tuchel said.
“I think it is not a yellow card. Do we get this back? Does France get the yellow card back for Michael Olise which was not a yellow card?”
He then summed up the wider problem.
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“Where does this end? I don’t know the rules. I am the wrong person to ask. I will wait and see what’s coming.”
The comments captured the frustration felt by several teams after FIFA’s surprise decision. The issue is no longer just about Balogun. It is about whether tournament disciplinary rules are being applied in the same way to everyone.
Trump call adds political edge
Balogun was sent off during the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32.
The red card, shown after a VAR review, would normally have led to an automatic one-match suspension. That would have ruled him out of the last-16 match against Belgium.
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Instead, FIFA used Article 27 of its disciplinary code to suspend the implementation of the ban for a probationary period of one year.
According to AP News, Trump personally intervened by calling FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asking the governing body to review the case.
After the decision, Trump thanked FIFA publicly.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” he wrote.
Balogun red card remains on record
FIFA’s decision does not mean the red card disappeared completely.
According to The Guardian, Balogun’s red card remains on his record for one year. If he commits another offence of a similar nature and seriousness during that period, the one-match ban can still be enforced.
That technical explanation has done little to calm the controversy.
Belgium have reacted angrily, UEFA have criticised FIFA’s handling of the case, and rival coaches are now asking what the ruling means for the rest of the tournament.
Tuchel’s point was simple: once one red-card ban can be suspended, every other decision becomes open to argument.
Quansah case sharpens the debate
Quansah’s red card against Mexico has made the issue more immediate for England.
The defender was dismissed in the second half at the Azteca Stadium, forcing England to protect their lead under huge pressure. Tuchel’s side survived and advanced to the quarter-finals, but the red card could still affect their next match.
England now face Norway, and Quansah is expected to be suspended unless FIFA were to take similar action.
That is why Tuchel’s joke about Kane calling Trump landed so sharply.
It was light in tone, but serious in meaning.
If political pressure and post-match reviews can affect one player’s availability, other teams will naturally ask whether the same route is open to them.
FIFA faces more questions
The Balogun decision has created a precedent FIFA may struggle to contain.
For the United States, it is a major boost. Balogun has scored three goals at the tournament and is one of Mauricio Pochettino’s most important attacking players.
For opponents, the concern is bigger than one match.
The question now is whether FIFA has opened the door to selective disciplinary reviews during the most important stage of the World Cup.
Tuchel did not claim to have the answer.
But he did ask the question now facing the entire tournament.
“Where does this start and where does this end?”
