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Folarin Balogun says FIFA's red‑card reversal 'caused a lot of controversy'

sportsJul 14, 2026191,054

United States striker Folarin Balogun said FIFA's decision to suspend his one-game ban at the World Cup created "a lot of controversy" and produced "a bit of nerves" among his team-mates. Balogun, 25, was sent off for serious foul play against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the last 32 and should have faced an automatic suspension, but FIFA's disciplinary committee suspended the ban for a year, a move that drew widespread condemnation after it emerged that US President Donald Trump and White House officials had lobbied FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Balogun, who scored three goals at the tournament for Monaco, learned he could play in the last-16 match against Belgium while on the team bus, prompting "screaming and shouting" on the way to the practice field. The waiver came two days before the United States lost 4-1 to Belgium; Balogun started the game but did not score and said he had not been involved in early preparations because the team practised without him. Balogun told CBS he tried to focus despite the "outside noise" and credited his team-mates for reassurance, and he said the camp nonetheless had "full concentration" going into the match. UEFA described FIFA's decision as "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable," and the head of FIFA's disciplinary committee declined to answer BBC questions about the ruling.

Decoding Fox News
@decodingfoxnews.bsky.social

This is a collection of crazy things said on Fox News about the World Cup. A couple of notes. No one mentioned that U.S. player Folarin Balogun is only a U.S. citizen due to birthright citizenship. The U.S. does NOT pay for Europe's healthcare system.

15011h ago
The Athletic
@theathletic.com

USMNT striker Folarin Balogun told CBS that he could see the effect his red card suspension being overturned had on his team. "I could almost see within my teammates a bit of nerves." More, via @paultenorio.bsky.social: nyti.ms/4fwy8k1

1588h ago
3 sources