The biggest fight in the football world is not on the pitch, but it is between UEFA and FIFA.
Aleksander Ceferin, the head of UEFA, did not attend the World Cup final. As reported by the British media, he boycotted it to show his unhappiness with FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino.
The bond between European football and world football has been getting worse for months. The latest incidents in the World Cup made it even worse.
The Major Reason: The Folarin Balogun Red Card Case
The biggest controversy happened just before a World Cup match between the USA and Belgium. US striker Folarin Balogun was given a red card, which means an automatic one-match ban. But then US President Donald Trump asked FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the sending off.
In his statement Turmp said he watched the incident and did not believe it was a foul, so he asked for a review. After a few days, FIFA surprisingly announced it on 5th July. As shared in the statement, Folarin Balogun’s suspension was put on hold for one year. He was free to play.
FIFA stated, “In line with Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year.”
If Folarin Balogun does another such infringement during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked.
Belgium appealed against the decision. But FIFA rejected the appeal.
UEFA was furious. They stated FIFA gave in to political pressure from the hosting nation. UEFA released a strong statement: “Football relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest, and transparent competition. When the certainty of rules is not assured by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake.”
UEFA called FIFA’s decision unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustifiable.
According to media reports, the Balogun controversy was one of the reasons behind Ceferin’s decision to stay away from the World Cup final.
Other Reasons that Escalated the Issues
There are several other issues between UEFA and FIFA:
Referee Visa Issue: Somali referee Omar Artan was not allowed to enter the country. When US authorities refused to allow it, FIFA did not push enough to resolve it. So UEFA responded by appointing Artan to a big job. He will referee the UEFA Super Cup final next month.
Iran was treated badly: Iran’s coach Amir Ghalenoei shared that his team was the “most oppressed” during the tournament. US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin made headlines when he said he danced when Iran was knocked out. UEFA believed FIFA should have been more careful to protect all teams equally.
The New Rules: FIFA tries several new ideas, but UEFA rejected most of them
- Hydration breaks: FIFA added them. UEFA will not
- Mistaken identity: Switzerland’s Breel Embolo in Switzerland’s quarter-final vs Argentina was sent off. UEFA has told its VARs not to use this in the Champions League.
- Red cards to cover mouths: FIFA introduced this to stop players from abusing opponents.
- Half-time Show: Pop stars like Madonna, BTS, Shakira, and Justin Bieber performed in the event and made half-time 27 minutes long instead of 15. UEFA will not let it happen in the Champions League or European Championships.
Bigger Tournament
Ceferin is crucial for a 48-team World Cup. He said before the tournament, “We have a lot of matches that are not interesting.” He is also strongly against a 64-team World Cup, which Infantino appeared to open the door to during the tournament.
Ticket Cost
The tickets for the World Cup in the US were very costly. Ceferin raised his voice against it. For Euro 2028 in the UK and Ireland, UEFA promised something different. 40% of tickets will cost under 30 pounds (35 euros or $40) or below 60 pounds. It has also promised not to adopt dynamic pricing.
The boycott of the World Cup Final is not just about one red card, but it is about the future of football.
As of now, the gap between UEFA and FIFA is increasing. And football fans will witness the effects in the near future, from new rules in the Champions League to how future World Cups are run.
