Thomas Tuchel joked that perhaps Harry Kane should get on the phone to Donald Trump about a red card decision, as he reacted to FIFA’s decision to overturn Folarin Balogun’s World Cup suspension.
On Sunday, it was reported that FIFA suspended the enforcement of Balogun’s automatic one-match ban, allowing the United States striker to face Belgium despite his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The controversy erupted after FIFA invoked Article 27 of its disciplinary code to suspend the sanction for a one-year probationary period, meaning Balogun was free to play despite receiving a straight red card in the United States’ previous match.
Although FIFA insists the red card itself has not been rescinded, critics argue the practical effect is the same: an automatic suspension has been set aside under highly unusual circumstances after intense political attention surrounding the case.
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There has also been anger over the fact that FIFA’s move seemed to have been prompted after an intervention from Donald Trump, who asked the governing body to scrap Balogun’s suspension.
Following England’s epic 3-2 win against Mexico later that day, Thomas Tuchel was asked for his thoughts on FIFA’s move.
The England man was clearly unimpressed, rightly asking “where does this end.”
This was also after England defender Jarell Quansah had been shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle in the second half of the Mexico match.
Tuchel asked whether England would now be able to lobby FIFA to overturn Quansah’s suspension for the quarter final against Norway.
“Can we overturn it or not overturn it,” he said. “What is going on?
“Where to draw the line is the question that I ask, I have no answer to that. Where does this end now?”
When he was asked if England captain Harry Kane should try and get Trump to intervene again, Tuchel joked: “Maybe! That’s a good starting point.”