Referee chief Howard Webb fears World Cup row over USA’s Folarin Balogun could fuel Premier League conspiracy theories

REF chief Howard Webb fears the World Cup row over USA striker Folarin Balogun could fuel false PREM conspiracy theories. Pro Ref boss Webb admitted he was “troubled” after the intervention by US President Donald Trump saw Balogun cleared to play against Belgium despite his red card for serious foul play being confirmed. Howard Webb fears Folarin Balogun’s World Cup controversy will fuel Premier League conspiracy theories Credit: PA Balogun saw a red card overturned following an appeal by Donald Trump to Fifa president Gianni Infantino Credit: Getty And the former whistler conceded his concerns that intervention in football governance by outside figures could convince some fans that the entire game is suspect. Webb said: “I was really troubled by it. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Dream Team is back, free, and there’s £100,000 up for grabs! “A red card was shown and that there was pressure placed by a politician onto Fifa because that was admitted. “And we know that the suspension was taken away for that particular tournament and suspended through a process which seemingly didn’t exist before the season that tournament started. “Where I was troubled by it was that we live in a world now which is different to the one that I occupied as a ref. “Decisions were viewed as correct or incorrect, based on your judgment. Far too often now, decisions are viewed as correct or corrupt by people who want to type all over social media. “They try to draw inferences around decisions and the motivation behind that decision, born out of no facts, no evidence. “But when you get that type of situation, it opens up space for people to think ‘ha ha, you see, this sort of thing is happening all the time behind the scenes’. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS “It’s really not. The officials do their job on the field, they make the decision. Of all the things that people talk about, that’s the thing that troubles me the most, that people will feel that sort of influence can be had.” The Balogun incident, which was then followed by Fifa President Gianni Infantino’s failed attempt to sell off a multi-billion pound stake in the World Cup, also concerned Prem boss Richard Masters, who backed calls for a change in the entire leadership model of the global body. Masters said: “I do scroll through social media and bump into some of the stuff people are saying and thinking. But we’re English football, everyone’s trying their best. Top football travel deals “There have been an accumulation of issues and we have a split Fifa. “What’s happened proves what we’ve been talking about, the expansions of the calendar, new competitions, decisions that impact on domestic football competitions, particularly leagues. “Now what needs to happen is another candidate needs to emerge with a new offer, a different offer that can hopefully unify the confederations. Part of that offer should be to look at the role of the president and what power that president actually has.” Masters was reluctant to discuss any aspect of the Manchester City “115” charges cases, although he insisted he had to let the process “reach its natural conclusion”. But Arsenal chief executive Richard Garlick, part of the Prem leadership team until 2021 admitted: “It’s gone on quite a while. “Everybody – the league and the teams – would want clarity around what’s going to happen next. I just hope that there is a solution very quickly.” Comment now