United States striker, Folarin Balogun, has admitted he expected FIFA‘s decision to suspend his one-match World Cup ban as a result of a red card to generate controversy, saying the ruling also created tension within the American squad.
Recall that 25-year-old Balogun was given a red card for serious foul play during the USA’s Round of 32 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, a dismissal that ordinarily carried an automatic one-match suspension.
However, FIFA’s disciplinary committee suspended the ban for one year, allowing the Monaco forward to feature in the United States’ Round of 16 clash against Belgium.
The decision drew criticism, especially after reports emerged that United States President Donald Trump and White House officials had lobbied football’s governing body over the case.
European football governing body UEFA described the decision as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”
Speaking to CBS, Balogun said he quickly realised the ruling would become a major talking point.
He said, “My initial reaction was that I was happy to be back in the team but when I started to reflect, I knew it was going to start a lot of controversy and I could almost see within my team-mates a bit of nerves because it is something that is so unique.
“The closer we got to the game, I focused the best I could but it was difficult. The outside noise is hard to avoid.
“My team-mates are like my brothers, they gave me a lot of reassurance. There was nothing I could do or change.”
Surprise decision
Balogun said he was not involved in the team’s early preparations because he expected to miss the match through suspension.
The decision to overturn the ban came two days before the USA’s 4-1 defeat to Belgium.
“It was confusing as the team was practising without me in the team. I almost played a supporting role to keep the morale high,” he said.
“When we found out on the team bus, everyone was screaming and shouting. It was a pretty intense bus ride to the practice field.”
‘We stayed focused’
Despite the attention surrounding the decision, Balogun insisted it did not distract Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
“It was about separating the emotion from the job at hand. We are all professionals,” he said.
“It was not something that was too difficult to separate once we got over the initial announcement that I would be back in the team.
“It was a difficult game against Belgium and that can overshadow whether we are focused or not, but from being inside the camp and set-up I know we had full concentration going into the game.”
Questions remain over FIFA ruling
The head of FIFA’s disciplinary committee has declined to answer questions about the process that led to Balogun’s suspension being lifted.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has previously denied influencing disciplinary decisions.
The controversy intensified after England defender Jarell Quansah received a two-match suspension for a similar red card offence against Mexico.
Quansah was dismissed for serious foul play and, unlike Balogun, served both the automatic one-match ban and an additional suspension imposed by FIFA.
