🚨🗣️ José Mourinho on FIFA overturning Folarin Balogun's red card following Donald Trump's intervention:
"Everyone is acting so shocked today. Everyone is crying about politics and Donald Trump making phone calls to Gianni Infantino to change the rules. But why are we surprised? The integrity of this tournament was thrown in the trash in the very first week.
All this started when FIFA let Lionel Messi escape a clear red card for a studs-up challenge. When you decide that the rules do not apply to the poster boy, you open the door for everyone else. If the referee's monitor can be ignored for Argentina's captain to protect the brand, why can't a suspension be ignored for the United States President?
Folarin Balogun gets a red card, Trump makes a call, and suddenly FIFA finds a magic 'Article 27' to let him play against Belgium. It is a circus. We are no longer watching a World Cup, we are watching a political reality show where the rulebook is just a suggestion based on who you are and who is watching."
UEFA has released a statement expressing disbelief at FIFA's decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's red card ban in the Round of 16, saying that it "crossed a red line." #FIFAWorldCup
Trump on Balogun:
Balogun is our best player. He got a red card. I didn't know what that meant, but then I heard that it means you cannot play in the next game.
That's very unfair. How do you penalize him for a game that hasn't been played yet?
I asked for a review by FIFA.
Mexico should never have been a host nation.
Not only did they try and keep the England team awake overnight, they have been threatening England fans as they left the stadium and shone lasers in the eyes of Bellingham when he was on the pitch.
England still thrashed them!
🚨 JUST IN 🚨
FIFA will apologize to England following the wrongful dismissal of Jarell Quansah against Mexico. They have confirmed the challenge should not have been considered reckless or dangerous, and that the referee made a mistake by awarding a straight red card.
According to officials, the incident did not meet the threshold for serious foul play, meaning England were left to play with 10 men because of an incorrect decision.
FIFA have also suggested that the foul involving Harry Kane, which led to Mexico's penalty, was not a clear and obvious error and therefore should never have been reviewed by the referee in the first place. Despite that, the VAR team still sent him to the monitor where he chose to award a penalty for only minimal contact.
The two decisions have now become major talking points, with England believing the match was heavily influenced by incorrect officiating. FIFA's review has only added to the controversy surrounding the game."
This is really very sad.
Mexico fans are making a massive noise in the middle of the night outside the hotel where the England team are staying in an attempt to keep them awake at night.
I really hope that England thrashes Mexico.