BBC presenter Kelly Cates took a swipe at Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift's husband, during the network's World Cup coverage, suggesting the NFL star should have been concentrating on his wedding rather than campaigning for a US player's red card suspension.
Controversial red card decision sparks debate
Cates, 50, chaired a discussion about United States striker Folarin Balogun's controversial red card suspension before England's last-16 clash against Mexico. FIFA confirmed Balogun is available to play in the USA's only last-16 game against Belgium after his one-game ban was suspended.
Balogun, currently at Monaco and formerly of Arsenal, was shown a straight red card in the co-hosts' last-32 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina. That looked set to rule the 25-year-old out of the upcoming clash with Belgium but FIFA said the ban would be suspended for a year without offering any specific reason.
Belgian FA reacts furiously
Belgium's football association has reacted furiously to the decision, insisting they are 'astonished' and saying they will 'investigate all potential options' in response. Cates asked BBC pundits Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart and Micah Richards for their take on the controversy before England's last-16 clash against Mexico in the early hours of Monday morning.
Cates, who is the daughter of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish, noted how there had been a 'big social media campaign among huge American sports stars' for FIFA to intervene. NFL superstar Kelce was among those to throw their support behind Balogun but Cates said he should instead have been 'concentrating' on his wedding.
Kelce and Swift tie the knot
Kelce and popstar Swift tied the knot at New York's Madison Square Garden on Saturday in a star-studded ceremony officiated by Adam Sandler. 'Listen, there's a big story today with Folarin Balogun,' Cates said on BBC One. 'He was sent off against Bosnia but will be available to face Belgium in the round-of-16.
'Look, you can definitely make a case that this is a harsh red card. But he gets an automatic one-game ban and the red card has not been rescinded, it's just been suspended for a year which is why he's available to face Belgium.
'The Belgian FA says it's astonished and investigating all potential options. There was a big social media campaign among huge American sports stars – including Travis Kelce who should have been concentrating on his wedding.
'Meanwhile US president Donald Trump has thanked FIFA for reversing what he called a great injustice. It's gone all the way to the president and the red card has not been rescinded, it's been suspended for a year.'
Kelce's social media campaign
Taking to social media two days before his wedding, Kelce wrote: 'That foul looked incidental from Balogun, shouldn't a Red Card be given if there is either intention to foul, or an action that is aggressive and unsafe in nature? Didn't feel like Balogun was out of control or anything, just looked like it kind of happened.'
Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville slammed FIFA's controversial decision, insisting it 'absolutely stinks'. 'It absolutely stinks, let's be really clear,' Neville – who represented England at two World Cups – said on ITV.
'But what I would say, the thing that stinks the most is there should be a review process in place because I actually didn't think it was a red card.
'I think there should be a process which allows it to be overturned, but if there's no process for it to be overturned and then somehow FIFA, from nowhere, have decided to basically let a player play… and the rules are the same for everybody.
'I would be absolutely raging if I was Belgium and every other team in the tournament that's had a player sent off that might think it's a little bit hard done by. Do you know something? Are we surprised? No, not with this lot.'
Arsenal legend weighs in
Arsenal legend Ian Wright, meanwhile, said the decision was just the latest in a long line of 'shameful' episodes at this summer's tournament. Mauricio Pochettino's USA face Belgium in the early hours of Tuesday morning for a place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
