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American striker Folarin Balogan says he knows FIFA’s decision to hand him a one-game ban at the World Cup will cause a lot of controversy and will see the “nerves” created among his teammates.
Balogi, 25, was sent off in the last 32 for a foul against Bosnia Herzegovina and should have been given an automatic penalty.
However, FIFA’s disciplinary committee suspended the ban for a year – a decision that drew widespread condemnation, especially as US President Donald Trump and White House officials protested the punishment imposed on the American by soccer’s world governing body.
Balogi, who scored three World Cup goals, started the United States’ last-16 loss to Belgium – European soccer’s governing body, UEFA. “Unprecedented, incomprehensible and irrational.”
“The first reaction was that I was happy to be back in the team, but when I started to reflect, I realized that a lot of controversies started and I could see a little nervousness in my teammates because it’s something very special,” Balogin. He told CBS., External
“The closer we got to the game, I concentrated as much as I could, but it was difficult. It’s hard to ignore the outside noise.
“My teammates are like my brothers, they gave me a lot of confidence. There was nothing I could do or change.”
The United States is two days away from the decision to lift Balogan’s ban. Lost 4-1 to Belgium.
Balogi was on the team bus when he found out he was going to play in the game, which caused “screams and shouts” in the team.
Baloghi said he did not take part in the pre-match preparations as it was unlikely he would escape immediate punishment for a straight red card.
The Monaco striker added: “It was confusing for the team to train without me in the squad.
“When we got on the team bus, everyone was yelling and screaming. It was a very intense bus ride to the practice field.”
