Balogun admits controversy as FIFA waives World Cup ban following political lobbying
Folarin Balogun says the decision to allow him to play against Belgium, despite a red card against Bosnia-Herzegovina, caused nerves in the squad and drew condemnation from UEFA.
United States striker Folarin Balogun has conceded that the suspension of his one-match ban by FIFA’s disciplinary committee was bound to generate significant controversy. The decision, which allowed the 25-year-old to start in the USA’s 4-1 defeat by Belgium in the World Cup last-16 stage, followed lobbying by US President Donald Trump and White House officials. Balogun noted that the announcement caused "nerves" among his teammates, who were initially unaware of the change while the squad practised without him.
The controversy centres on a red card issued to Balogun for serious foul play against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the last 32. Under standard regulations, such an offence triggers an automatic one-match suspension. However, FIFA’s disciplinary committee suspended the ban, a move that UEFA condemned as "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable." Balogun, who scored three goals during the tournament, admitted that while he was initially happy to be back in the team, he recognised the unique nature of the situation and the difficulty of avoiding outside noise.
Balogun described a period of confusion prior to the Belgium match, where the team practised without him, leading him to take a supporting role to maintain morale. He reported that the news caused "screaming and shouting" among his teammates upon hearing the decision on the team bus. Despite the initial shock and the intense atmosphere, Balogun claimed that the squad separated emotion from the job at hand and maintained full concentration for the match against Belgium.
The disparity in disciplinary treatment has drawn attention, particularly when compared to England’s Jarell Quansah. Quansah received a two-match ban for a similar red card for serious foul play against Mexico, highlighting the inconsistency in how the committee applied sanctions. The head of FIFA’s disciplinary committee refused to answer BBC questions regarding the decision-making process, while FIFA President Gianni Infantino has previously denied having influence over disciplinary decisions.
Balogun, who did not score in the defeat, insisted that the controversy did not distract manager Mauricio Pochettino’s side. He stated that the team were all professionals who focused on the task at hand, although he acknowledged that the difficult game against Belgium could overshadow questions of focus. The decision to waive the ban occurred two days before the USA’s elimination, leaving the specifics of the committee’s criteria unclear.
