Giovanni Malagò, the president of the Italian Football Federation, has let rip at FIFA over the decision to uphold Folarin Balogun's red card. He did...
Giovanni Malagò, the president of the Italian Football Federation, has let rip at FIFA over the decision to uphold Folarin Balogun's red card. He didn't mince his words, calling the entire affair 'absurd' and wondering aloud whether the very foundation of football has been lost. It is rare to see a figure of his stature go this nuclear, and it tells you everything you need to know about the state of modern officiating.When a striker chases down a lost cause, that is supposed to be passion. That is supposed to be desire. Yet somewhere along the line, the men in suits decided that a last ditch attempt to win the ball back is now a hanging offence. Balogun's crime Trying too hard. The football world has seen players sent off for far worse, but this one feels different. It feels like the game is being sanitised, stripped of its raw edge.Malagò is right to be furious. If you take away a player's right to fight for every ball, what are you left with A sterile, non contact sport where everyone is afraid to breathe on an opponent. The red card decision was not just harsh, it was a kick in the teeth for anyone who loves the physical, combative nature of the game. The FIGC president has thrown down the gauntlet, and frankly, the governing bodies need to listen before they turn the beautiful game into a farce.Balogun will now serve a suspension that has left fans scratching their heads. How do you explain to a striker that his instinct to chase and harry is now a disciplinary risk You cannot. You just have to hope that common sense prevails in the appeal, though given the current climate, who knows. Football is supposed to be a contact sport, not a ballet recital. Perhaps it is time the rulebook was rewritten by people who actually understand what happens on the pitch.
