Gianni Infantino’s job now ‘untenable’ after FIFA’s ‘scandalous’ England decision

Gianni Infantino has been told his position as FIFA president is ‘untenable’ amid backlash over red card bans at the World Cup.

England’s Jarell Quansah has been suspended for two matches after he was sent off against Mexico on Sunday.

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The defender will miss the Three Lions’ quarter-final clash with Norway as well as a potential semi-final against Argentina or Switzerland.

However, his ban came after FIFA suspended the one-match ban attached to Folarin Balogun’s red card earlier in the tournament.

The USA striker was cleared to play in their defeat to Belgium despite being sent off in their previous match against Bosnia & Herzegovina.

It came after president Donald Trump called Infantino to request a review of the red card and suspension.

The 56-year-old, who has been FIFA president since 2016, is now under mounting pressure to step down from his role.

‘Scandalous’ decision

Gary Lineker is the latest high-profile voice to criticise the governing body’s handling of the situation.

He was joined by Alan Shearer, Joe Cole and Micah Richards to debate the issue on the latest episode of Netflix’s The Rest Is Football.

Reacting to the decision to suspend Quansah for two matches, Shearer exclaimed: “FIFA have brought all this on themselves.

“How on earth does Quansah now get two games, Balogun got one suspended and got it taken away, yet Quansah now has to miss if England get through the two games.

“It’s absolutely scandalous. Such a bad look.”

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Lineker responded by adding: “I think his position at FIFA now is almost untenable.”

The criticism of Infantino continued as Cole joked: “He’s got one job. He’s like Basil Fawlty, falling over himself all the time and messing it up.”

Meanwhile, Richards argued: “It’s an absolute farce, isn’t it? How many times? All the good things that have happened in this competition…

“All the success stories, we keep talking about them, but this is just ridiculous.”

World Cup red cards

Quansah’s two-match ban is only the second red card suspension to be extended beyond one match at this summer’s tournament.

South Africa midfielder Themba Zwane was banned for three matches after he was sent off against Mexico in the opening match of the World Cup.

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As for Balogun, he is the only player to have their red card ban suspended by FIFA.

The remaining 12 players who have been sent off have either served their ban during the tournament or will do so when their nation next plays having been knocked out.