Wayne Rooney has torn into FIFA president Gianni Infantino, telling him he should be “ashamed of himself” for the decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s red card ban for a year.

The USA striker, who has impressed at his home World Cup, scoring three goals and providing one assist in the three matches he has played thus far, was sent off against Bosnia & Herzegovina in the round of 32 match last week.

Balogun was initially not sent off, but after a VAR review, referee Raphael Claus deemed it to have been serious foul play, with the replays showing the striker planted his studs down the back of Tarik Muharemovic’s achilles and turning his ankle.

Balogun felt red card decision was harsh

Carlos Barria via Action Images via Reuters

It was an innocuous incident, with Balogun clearly showing no intent as he vied for the ball, trying simply to plant his foot in the ground as he challenged for possession, but the rules are clear and the incident did not look good when watched back.

Speaking after the game, Balogun said: “I think as you all saw, if there’s nowhere else to put your leg, it’s going to be unavoidable. I’ve seen many different opinions and takes, but, for me personally, I think a yellow card would have been fair.”

Balogun was expected to miss the USA’s round of 16 clash with Belgium as a result of the sending off, but FIFA have suspended the ban for a year, with US president Donald Trump thanking them for “doing what was right”.

It is understood that Trump lobbied FIFA to lift the ban. FIFA have stated that the ban was suspended “in line with Article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code, which allows it to suspend red cards so long as the discipline is not related to match-fixing”.

Speaking on the BBC, Rooney could not believe the decision.

He said: “I think it’s an absolute disgrace, I really do. I know it was UEFA but I got a three-game ban before Euro 2012 so I was due to miss the three group games and I got asked, or basically told that if I go over to Switzerland and do a training session with a bunch of kids the third game gets taken off.

“I agreed to do it because I didn’t want the three-game ban but I thought it was wrong. But for this to be suspended, they either take the red card away, which I think is probably the right decision and then he can play but to suspend it for a year I think is an absolute disgrace.

Rooney takes aim at FIFA president

REUTERS/Henry Romero

“Infantino should be ashamed of this because I think the sportsmanship of this game is in question here and if I’m one of the USA’s opponents I would be absolutely fuming, I think it’s wrong in every way.”

Belgium were fuming, with a statement reading: “The Royal Belgian Football Association is astonished by FIFA’s decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play in the USA-Belgium match on Monday.

“In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options.”

Media outlets in Mexico have made their feelings about England clear after the two nations played out a classic World Cup tie at the Azteca Stadium on Sunday night.

A Jude Bellingham brace and Harry Kane penalty were enough for the Three Lions to eliminate one of the host nations on their own turf after a week of speculation around how they’d cope in the conditions. The altitude inside the famous ground turned out to be no problem.

Thomas Tuchel’s side were forced to work extremely hard by a team that breezed through the group stage and Round of 32 without conceding a single goal, but their attacking quality proved to be vital. Now, local media have weighed in on the 1966 winners.

REUTERS/Paul Childs

It was a close encounter which threatened to boil over at times due to the tense atmosphere inside the ground, but the press in Mexico have been full of praise for the English players.

Several outlets made sure to give credit to the opposition while expressing the disappointment of being beaten on home soil. Mediotiempo wrote (per Daily Record):

Speaking about Javier Aguirre’s efforts to throw the kitchen sink at 10-man England, they conceded that they were simply facing a ‘top team’. “He pinned the English back in their own half, but no one could provide the spark of creativity needed to break down a top team, and it all ended as it began: just a dream.”

The Mexican Record were even more complimentary of specific players in the Three Lions’ line-up. “It wasn’t South Africa. Nor Korea or the Czech Republic. Not even Ecuador. It was a world champion, the team with the most powerful league on the planet,” they wrote.

Kane and Bellingham were among the handful of players singled out for praise: “A team with the legendary Harry Kane. With stars like Bellingham, man of the match, or Saka, or Rice. Even Pickford shone.”

Jude Bellingham Praised For Actions After England Win

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In addition to his star power on the pitch, Bellingham specifically has captured the imagination of Mexicans for his gesture after the game. He has been praised by El Universal for his actions, which ‘touched many hearts’.

A video quickly emerged online of Bellingham comforting 17-year-old wonderkid Gilberto Mora. The youngster asked to swap shirts with the Real Madrid ace, who responded by saying: “Give me yours too.”

The Mexican outlet appreciated the Englishman taking the time to acknowledge the rising star amid his country’s celebrations: “Undoubtedly, a gesture to applaud from the English player, who, full of euphoria and joy at qualifying for the quarter-finals, took the time to acknowledge the Mexican gem, who played a good game.”

Tottenham are said to be working on another deal after all-but wrapping up the club-record Sandro Tonali transfer. Spurs are spending £100million for the Newcastle United midfielder when add-ons are accounted for, and it makes for a record transfer window for the North London club, who have now spent more than £230million.

The spending will not stop there, either, with Roberto De Zerbi set to get even more money to spend before the window is out. Spurs appear to want a winger and potentially a striker, and it looks as though the spending total will soar beyond the £300million-mark when all is said and done.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Spurs are now eyeing another Premier League star after signing the Tonali documents.

Spurs still want long-term winger target

via Reuters

According to Romano, Spurs are still hot on Manchester City winger Savinho, who they have been tracking for some time. “And let me tell you, don’t forget also the name of Savinho,” Romano said on his latest YouTube show.

“I always told you Savinho remains a target for Tottenham and Savinho is a target for Tottenham. Then this in terms of timing will depend on several things – the transfer fee, Manchester City movements.

“So, there are a few details before we can say, okay, Tottenham are close to completing the Savinho deal. But the deal is still on. Tottenham have not stopped thinking about Savinho.

“So, remember also him after Sandro Tonali, after Mateus Fernandes, after Senesi, after Robertson, after Dubravka, because Roberto De Zerbi and the team are very busy on the market.”

City are said to be asking for a fee somewhere between £50million and £60million to sell Saviho this summer.

Savinho can be ‘unstoppable’

Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Speaking earlier this year, now former Man City boss Pep Guardiola said: “At that age, in the one-against-one, he is unstoppable. When we finish the final product, he will be a top, top class player.”

He also said of the winger last season: “What I like from Savinho is always he is digging, go, go, go, all the time. The final decision can be better, of course, but always I reward this work ethic and especially because he goes and he goes all the time.”

Savinho, who is still only 22 years of age, made 24 Premier League appearances for City last season, managing one goal and two assists. Last term was a down season for the Brazilian, though, and he managed 10 assists in the Premier League the previous season.