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“I accepted the dismissal and I accepted the return.” Balogun recounts the scenes of the crisis that rocked the World Cup
American forward Folarin Balogun confirmed the decision to allow him to play against Belgium in the early hours of Tuesday was controversial, while insisting he never intervened behind the scenes to change his automatic ban.
According to the website, Balogun told reporters after the meeting ESPN:“Of course, it is controversial when the decision is overturned. We took the decision when I saw the red card and we took the decision when we were told I could play. I was not involved in this process and it has nothing to do with me personally.”
These announcements cameAfter the widespread controversy surrounding the FIFA red card suspension, AWhich the player won in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s previous match in the round of 32, a move that coincided with US President Donald Trump’s claims that he had personally pressured FIFA president Gianni Infantino to resolve the crisis.
Balogun’s participation did not prevent the American team from reaching the finals of the 2026 World Cup after a heavy defeat.In the round of 16 against Belgium (4-1), questions remain over FIFA’s political interference in the game, despite Infantino’s insistence that the decision was made by FIFA’s independent Disciplinary Committee.
Balogun revealed that he went to Belgium coach Rudy Garcia after the game to congratulate him on the win, which was welcomed by the coach who commented on the gesture saying,
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee applied Article 27 of the Disciplinary Code, which provides for a discretionary suspension of sanctions based on undisclosed “special circumstances”, contrary to Article 66.4, which provides for an “automatic” suspension for the next match following a direct sending-off.
This exclusive use opens doors to heroic challenges; England’s Football Association is considering its options over the suspension of Mexico defender Jarel Quansah, while the European Football Association (Uefa) attacked the decision, saying FIFA had “crossed red lines”, to which the international federation responded by stressing that the revocation of a red card is common in European leagues as a routine disciplinary measure and has never come under any criticism.
On the other hand, Argentina’s Mauricio Pochettino, the US coach, expressed his extreme disappointment at the intersection of “politics and manipulation” and spoke of the ethics and integrity that accompanied his team’s exit, stressing that the controversy did not affect overall performance on the field and stressing that his mission was limited by the FA’s rules.
