Glad it turned out this way. But I still have this question … who or what instructed him to do so?
”The on-pitch referee Raphael Claus didn’t initially show Balogun a red card but was instructed to go to the pitchside monitor to review the incident, before telling Levi’s Stadium Balogun had committed a “serious foul” and would be sent off.”
Can’t they just say we erred and have decided to reduce the initial penalty?
My understanding is that the VAR system works so that the off field team tells the ref if they have spotted something. I think there has been enough commentary (not just in this match) that VAR is not being used the way it was originally intended.
I’m guessing that would open a huge can of worms for future VAR decisions. But what they can do is say that they will review how VAR is used, just like cricket has reviewed how its DRS system has worked over the years as problems became evident in practice.
I’m not ok with this and if this is why it happened. I can’t share a gift link cause I’m already getting low for the month!
If, no way to know. It could just be a reaction to what has almost universally been condemned as a bad decision.
I will observe that the same courtesy was given to Ronaldo to allow him to play in the World Cup, but it hasn’t been extended to “lesser” teams or players in this tournament. Unless Fifa actually explains the thinking behind when it applies a suspension and when it doesn’t it’s hard to see it as anything other than fifa just using the rules to benefit certain teams or players.
As I wrote to ds2, I’m fine with this as the right thing happened in the end. (I have an overdeveloped sense of justice.) FIFA already is considered outrageously corrupt, so it’s not like this decision is going to tarnish their image. 
I hope this will be an opportunity to relook at how they are using VAR. For instance, i don’t understand why VAR couldn’t have resulted in just a foul or a yellow card or a red card that resulted in leaving the game but no further suspension. Instead it went from a foul not even called on the field to a nuclear option. The current set-up feels like a need for control and not wanting to be questioned AT ALL.
Meanwhile, I think this does a pretty good job of airing all sides.
Which is also not ok IMO.
I’m sure there will be lots of discussion and opinion and focus on whoever had a role in it. Which may of course be the exact purpose of someone who may have been involved in the reversal. 
100%
Of course it isn’t ok. Why, for example, did the South African players who were red-carded not get a suspension too? Not important enough?
My H kept saying while watching Paraguay and France play - why wasn’t that a red card! He thought there should have been calls made against Paraguay that were not. They seemed to be playing dirty.
That game became very unfun to watch.
Just sad that this once again divides us when I felt like the WC was bringing us back together - not just US but all of us!
It’s worth being mad at for a minute. And recognizing the shenanigans. But the games have provided SOOO much more - that is where I’m going to lay my head - and continue to enjoy them!
FIFA is 100% corrupt, giving the World Cup to Russia and Qatar awarding a made up peace price and ridiculous ticket pricing is proof of that. However I do love an underdog story. The Argentina vs Cape Verde (1st World Cup) is one of my favorite games ever and I’m loving today’s Norways victory after failing to qualify for 28 years.
Belgium had some choice words over the red card suspension, I hope they play nice on the field and don’t try to hurt him.
This first half has been so entertaining and without all the flopping and dirty play. Hope that holds.
Hm, so now does Qansah get a year’s suspension on his red card too??
This has been one of the most exciting matches so far, for sure.
Adios, Mexico 
.
Norway looks like Cinderella.
Sad day. Mexico and Brazil are out.
Happy at our house!
I’ve always been an England fan so I’m happy that England won. Also, any team with 10 players that won against a team with 11 players, esp. at the World Cup stage has earned my respect.
I was hoping Mexico would win, but I enjoyed the game regardless. On to tomorrow’s matches!
