JULY 7 — The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is the guardian of the laws of the beautiful game of football. It is composed of the four British Football Associations (FAs) and Fifa, the world governing body which is responsible for the Laws of the Game worldwide.

In its introduction to the Laws of the Game — as the laws are called — the IFAB explains the philosophy and spirit of the Laws as follows:

“Football is the greatest sport on earth. It is played on every continent, in every country and at many different levels. The fact that the Laws of the Game are the same for all football throughout the world, from the Fifa World Cup™ through to a game between young children in a remote village, is a considerable strength which must continue to be harnessed for the good of football everywhere.

“Football must have Laws which keep the game fair — this is a crucial foundation of the ‘beautiful game’ and a vital feature of the spirit of the game. The best matches are those where the referee is rarely needed because the players play with respect for each other, the match officials and the Laws.

“[Whether] decisions are right or wrong, the spirit of the game requires that referees’ decisions must always be respected. All those in authority, especially coaches and team captains, have a clear responsibility to the game to respect the match officials and their decisions.”

To promote a greater understanding of the Laws, the IFAB has published ‘Football Rules — simplified Laws of the Game’, which have been written to make the Laws easier to understand, especially for young people, potential or newly qualified referees, adults who referee occasionally, players, coaches, spectators and the media.

On the referee, the Laws say that each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws in connection with the match. The decisions of the referee will be made to the best of the referee’s ability according to the Laws and the ‘spirit of the game’ and will be based on the opinion of the referee, who has the discretion to take appropriate action within the framework of the Laws.

The Laws further says that the decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final. The decisions of the referee, and all other match officials, must always be respected.

The referee is empowered to take disciplinary action against players guilty of cautionable and sending-off offences including the power to show yellow or red cards. The yellow card communicates a caution and the red card communicates a sending-off.

If football the game is governed by the Laws, Fifa the governing body is governed by its Statutes and Regulations, which include the Disciplinary Code. The Code applies to every match and competition organised by Fifa.

On decisions of the referee, the Code says decisions taken by the referee on the field of play are final and may not be reviewed by the Fifa judicial bodies. The judicial bodies of Fifa are: (a) the Disciplinary Committee; (b) the Ethics Committee; and (c) the Appeal Committee.

The Code further says that review is only in cases where a decision by the referee involves an obvious error (such as mistaking the identity of the person penalised). Even so, the Fifa judicial bodies may only review the disciplinary consequences of that decision.

The Laws and the Code apply without exceptions to the Fifa World Cup 26™.

No protests may be made about the referee’s decisions regarding facts connected with play. Such decisions are final and not subject to appeal, unless otherwise stipulated in the Code.

But the Code is clear and explicit: decisions taken by the referee on the field of play are final and may not be reviewed by the Fifa judicial bodies.

That explains why Uefa, European football governing body, said Fifa “crossed a red line” with the controversial decision to suspend US star Folarin Balogun’s one game ban for a year.

“[Fifa’s] decision to suspend for a probationary period of a year the implementation of the one-match automatic suspension following the red card issued to the player Folarin Balogun crossed a red line,” read Uefa’s strongly worded statement.

Fifa’s ruling, which came after the intervention of US president Donald Trump, permits Balogun to play in the co-hosts’ World Cup last 16 match with Belgium.

Trump on Monday confirmed he spoke to Fifa President Gianni Infantino to ask for a review of Balogun's red card.

“I asked for a review, because I didn't think it was a foul,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

“So, yes, I asked for a review by Fifa. I spoke to a man who’s highly respected.” 

The decision to suspend the ban was reportedly taken by the Fifa Disciplinary Committee. But as explained above, the decision of the referee is final and may not be reviewed by the Committee.

Even at the request of the president of one of the host countries of the World Cup.

A red line is a limit beyond which someone’s behaviour is not acceptable. To cross it is to violate a rule.

A red card for Fifa?

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.