Balogun says he expected backlash after FIFA suspended ban
The US striker told CBS Mornings the red-card decision created nerves inside the squad before the World Cup loss to Belgium.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
Folarin Balogun said he knew FIFA’s decision to suspend his World Cup red-card ban would draw scrutiny after United States President Donald Trump asked for the case to be reviewed. The ruling mattered because it allowed the US striker to face Belgium and brought new criticism over political involvement in football discipline, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.
Balogun spoke about the episode for the first time in an interview with CBS Mornings on Tuesday, Al Jazeera and Reuters reported. He had been sent off in the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32, a dismissal that normally carried an automatic one-match suspension.
“My initial reaction was I was happy to be back in the team. But when I kind of started to reflect, I knew it was going to cause a lot of controversy,” Balogun told CBS Mornings.
According to Al Jazeera and Reuters, the red card came after Balogun stepped awkwardly on the right ankle of Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic. FIFA later suspended the punishment for a one-year probationary period, clearing Balogun to play in the next match.
FIFA announced the suspension of the red-card ban after Trump urged FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review the decision, Al Jazeera and Reuters reported. The move drew criticism from Belgium’s football association, Europe’s top football body, a former FIFA president, several prominent former players and others.
Critics said the ruling damaged the tournament’s credibility because it followed direct political intervention, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. They also argued that the case created a risky precedent for future disciplinary decisions.
Balogun said the situation affected the atmosphere around the US squad. “I could almost see within my teammates a bit of nerves because it was something that’s so unique,” he told CBS Mornings.
He said he tried to concentrate as the Belgium match approached, though he found the attention difficult to shut out. “But the closer we got to the game, I tried to just focus as best as I could. But it was difficult – a lot of outside noise, and that’s hard to avoid,” Balogun said.
Before learning he could play, Balogun had shifted into a supporting role in training to help team morale, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. He said the squad found out about FIFA’s decision while traveling by bus.
“We found out on the team bus. Everybody was like screaming and shouting,” Balogun told CBS Mornings. “It was a pretty intense bus ride to the practice field.”
Balogun said the players were able to move past the initial reaction and prepare for Belgium. He told CBS Mornings that separating “the emotion from the job at hand” was not too hard because the players are professionals.
The United States lost 4-1 to Belgium, and Balogun had little impact on that match, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. The outlet reported that his broader tournament had been strong, with three goals before the US exit.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.