Premier League referees chief Howard Webb has expressed concern that the Folarin Balogun controversy has made officiating more challenging, potentially opening the door for conspiracy allegations. Webb, who oversaw 296 top-flight games, stated he was "really troubled by it," fearing a "snowball" effect where past decisions are questioned.
The controversy arose after USA striker Balogun's red card in a World Cup last-32 match was delayed by FIFA, following calls to the governing body's leadership by Donald Trump. FIFA President Gianni Infantino maintained it was an independent process, though it was later revealed the panel had only one official. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters described the incident as a "self-inflicted moment" that "stands alone" from the World Cup.
For the upcoming season, the Premier League will diverge from some FIFA World Cup officiating practices. VAR will not be used to overturn corners, and red cards for players covering their mouths will be eliminated. Yellow cards for diving due to mistaken identity will also not be reversed. The league's main intention is to nuance officiating to reduce "grappling" at set-pieces, with referees giving fewer warnings and penalising more situations.