MP Noah Lowe has officially asked FIFA to review Kwanza's suspension after the red card he received against Mexico, recalling a similar precedent for Balogun.
Kwanza was sent off for a foul on Jesus Gallardo, the Mexican defender, due to a challenge deemed dangerous. Lowe said: "As you will know, during the match between England and Mexico, our right back Jarell Kwanza received a red card for a careless tackle. While I believe the sanction was fair and that the rules should be applied consistently, I believe it is appropriate to suspend his suspension until the conclusion of this tournament."
The parliamentarian also referred to a similar case during the tournament, in which US forward Folarin Balogun received a suspension for an incident in a round of 16 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but his punishment was later overturned. Lowe said the integrity of any major international tournament depends not only on players and officials following the rules, but also on applying the same rules fairly to all participants.
"We cannot allow one player to have his suspension overturned while another, in similar circumstances, does not receive the same treatment," Lowe said in his speech. “At a time when our multilateral system and rules-based international order are under pressure, it is crucial that we address this issue with the utmost seriousness. I look forward to a response and decision on this matter.”
This request from Lowe comes in a context of growing attention on the disciplinary decisions taken by FIFA during highly prestigious tournaments such as the World Cup, where each decision can have a significant impact on the path of the competing teams and their ability to fight for the title.
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