Another blow to FIFA! Hummels calls Balogun case 'harakiri for fair play'
Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
Former Germany national team defender Mats Hummels delivered a scathing response to the situation surrounding Folarin Balogun and FIFA's decision to suspend his ban.
Details: Hummels stated that the Balogun case creates a dangerous impression that the president of a host country can influence football decisions with a single phone call.
According to Hummels, this kind of episode deals a massive blow to the credibility of football. He emphasized that such precedents open the door to further attempts to review decisions that have already been made.
The former defender posed a tough question: what's next - will a penalty be awarded, then a phone call comes in, and a minute later the decision is overturned?
Hummels also suggested that after such a case, there could be heated debates over match results and different interpretations of FIFA's rulings.
"This is harakiri for the very idea of fair play in football," Mats Hummels declared on MagentaTV.
Recall: FIFA suspended the one-match ban handed to Folarin Balogun after his red card, allowing the US international to play against Belgium. Earlier, Donald Trump confirmed that he had spoken to Gianni Infantino about the matter.
