Balogun Speaks Out Over Controversial FIFA Reprieve
United States of America (USA) striker Folarin Balogun admitted he anticipated backlash after FIFA suspended his World Cup red card ban following political lobbying by President Donald Trump.
The Monaco forward was dismissed against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but disciplinary chairman Mohammad Al Kamali unilaterally deferred the suspension.
Balogun told an international publication: “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, and I could almost see within my team-mates a bit of nerves, because it’s something that is so unique.”
The decision provoked fury. UEFA labelled the move “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable”, while pundit Gary Neville described the reprieve as “a stain on FIFA”.
It emerged that President Trump had personally urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to intervene, later admitting: “I didn’t know what a red card meant!”
Human rights group FairSquare has petitioned the International Olympic Committee over ethics violations. Despite the external drama, Balogun played in the USA’s subsequent 4-1 defeat by Belgium. Manager Mauricio Pochettino insisted the chaos was no excuse for their exit.
Image Credit: Source
