‘Maybe that’s a good starting point’: England’s Tuchel jokes Kane could ask Trump about Quansah’s red card

England head coach Thomas Tuchel reacts after the World Cup Round of 16 match against Mexico. (AP photo) England head coach Thomas Tuchel has questioned FIFA’s decision to overturn Folarin Balogun’s World Cup suspension, joking that captain Harry Kane may have to call US President Donald Trump in a bid to overturn Jarell Quansah’s red card.Tuchel’s comments came after FIFA used Article 27 of its disciplinary code to suspend Balogun’s automatic one-match ban, making the United States striker available for Monday’s round of 16 match against Belgium. The decision followed reports that Trump had contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ask for a review of the appeal.While Tuchel reiterated that he did not believe Balogun deserved a red card, he questioned the process behind FIFA’s intervention and warned that it could open the door to endless appeals against the referees’ decisions.

Tuchel questions FIFA’s consistency

Speaking after England’s dramatic 3-2 win over Mexico, Tuchel said the issue was not whether Balogun’s tackle warranted a sending-off, but how the decision was later overturned.“First of all, I think to make it clear that it was not a red card,” Tuchel said. “But VAR got involved and obviously three VAR people and the referee checked it and they were of the opinion that it was a yellow card, so it’s decided.READ ALSO: ‘It absolutely stinks’: Football world erupts over Donald Trump’s role in FIFA Balogun red card spinHe then asked who has the authority to review this decision.“Who is overturning this decision and when and on what basis? And how far does it go now? It’s just weird to me,” he said.The England manager stressed that consistency was the biggest concern.“We just want to have consistency in decisions,” he continued.Tuchel then pointed to other controversial bookings from the tournament.“So, is our yellow card after the first minute against Declan Rice… Now we can debate forever. I don’t think it’s a yellow card. Do we get it back? Will France return the yellow card for Michael Olis, which wasn’t a yellow card?” he asked. “Where does it end? I don’t know the rules. It’s wrong of me to ask. I’ll wait and see what comes.”

Referee Alireza Faghani shows a red card to England’s Jarell Quansah (26) during the World Cup Round of 16. (AP photo)

Trump’s cheeky joke after Quansaha’s red card

Tuchel also couldn’t resist a light dig after reports emerged that Trump had spoken to FIFA president Gianni Infantino regarding Balogun’s suspension.Following England’s win over Mexico, Trump took to social media to praise Harry Kane, calling the striker a “GREAT player”.Asked if Kane could now ask Trump to intervene over Quansah’s red card against Mexico, Tuchel smiled and said: “Maybe, that’s a good starting point.”The England defender was sent off following a VAR review during the second half at the Estadio Azteca, leaving the Three Lions to play much of the game with 10 men before holding on for a famous victory.

“Where does it begin and where does it end?”

Tuchel has repeatedly returned to what he believes is the bigger problem created by FIFA’s decision.“Where does it start and where does it end now? Can we flip it or not flip it? What’s going on?” he said.He added: “Where to draw the line is the question I ask myself. I don’t have an answer to that.”The England boss concluded by asking whether it was now possible to appeal against every disputed disciplinary decision.“Where does it end now? We’re going to appeal if a yellow card isn’t a yellow card. We think it’s not a red card or who thinks? Where does it start and where does it end?” he said.FIFA said Balogun’s suspension was suspended under Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which allows a judicial body to suspend the enforcement of a disciplinary sanction and place a player on probation for between one and four years.The decision puts Balogun, who scored three goals during the tournament, at his disposal as the United States bid for a first World Cup quarterfinal since 2002, but it has also sparked widespread debate.