Former US Men’s National Team defender Jonathan Bornstein has endorsed FIFA’s decision to reverse Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension, allowing him to participate in the critical World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium. Bornstein considers the call appropriate, differing from criticism voiced by Norway’s coach.
The reversal of Balogun’s suspension was a major point of contention early in the tournament. Balogun received a red card in a match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, resulting from an incorrect application of VAR rules. FIFA subsequently postponed his one-game suspension, letting him play against Belgium.
European fans and commentators expressed strong opposition to this decision. Yet, such controversy paled compared to the reaction from Egyptian players and coaches after their unexpected 3-2 loss to Argentina led by Lionel Messi.
Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan voiced dissatisfaction after the match, openly criticizing the officiating. He highlighted unexamined incidents that should have been checked for penalties and questioned the disallowance of Egypt’s second goal following VAR review.
“We haven’t seen respect or fair play,” Hassan remarked. “Several incidents were brushed aside by VAR, shaping an undue disadvantage for our team.”
Egypt initially led 1-0, seemingly extended to a 2-0 lead, only to have their second goal annulled after a VAR review concluded a foul had occurred earlier play. Despite scoring again, the dynamic could have shifted to 3-0, complicating Argentina’s comeback.
Forward Mostafa Ziko echoed Hassan’s sentiments, alleging bias in referee decisions. Ziko described the match as “rigged,” expressing frustration over perceived unjust calls that impacted their advantage.
“The referee sided against us, even with a clear lead,” Ziko stated. “It felt orchestrated to prevent our third goal, but thank God, we managed to score it.”
Ziko insisted their efforts faced undue hindrances, denying additional goals. Among the controversial referee calls, Egypt deemed them as contributing factors to their loss. Despite the intense focus on officiating, some calls, particularly VAR’s decision, raised questions about fairness.
Speculations surrounding potential influence targeting Lionel Messi’s continued presence in the tournament were rife. Messi’s appeal sustains high audience interest and viewership. Nevertheless, attributing Egypt’s defeat to alleged bias discounts Messi and Argentina’s performance.
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