Marco Tardelli criticizes football institutions following Folarin Balogun's disciplinary decision

During the Rai 1 program 'Notti Mondiali', 1982 World Cup champion Marco Tardelli publicly criticized FIFA and player unions. His comments were prompted by a controversial decision to suspend a red card previously issued to 25-year-old forward Folarin Balogun for one year. Tardelli described the decision as a dangerous precedent that undermines the sport's boundaries. He emphasized that current players and unions have failed to address systemic issues. Reflecting on past events, he praised Diego Armando Maradona as the only player who consistently challenged FIFA's authority. Tardelli admitted regret for not supporting Maradona during his career, claiming that the lack of unity among players has led to current institutional problems. The Italian former midfielder acknowledged his own failure to defend Maradona at the time, stating that the football world is now suffering the consequences of that silence.