The coach of the US men’s soccer team has voiced his opinion following FIFA’s controversial choice to postpone the suspension of US striker Folarin Balogun.
Balogun was ejected during the US round of 32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. According to FIFA’s regulations, this would typically prevent him from participating in the subsequent game.
However, in a surprising turn, FIFA declared it would delay Balogun’s suspension for a year, allowing him to continue playing.
This decision has faced significant backlash from UEFA, which stated that ‘when the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed’ it compromises the ‘integrity of the game’ and diminishes the ‘credibility of a competition’.
Compounding the situation, US President Donald Trump reportedly engaged in a conversation with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and labeled the suspension of Balogun’s ban as a ‘reversal of a great injustice’.
US coach Mauricio Pochettino responded to the situation by describing the original decision as ‘completely unfair’ and expressing approval of the suspension.
“We celebrate that decision. We were punished enough against Bosnia-Herzegovina to play with 10 men, 30 minutes, in a decision that was completely unfair,” he stated.
“But it’s not only because I am the head coach of the U.S. men’s national team, I need to defend my side.
“It’s only because I think 100 or 99.9 percent, that we all agree it was an unfair red card.”
Balogun received a red card after an altercation for the ball with Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemovic, during which he accidentally stepped on Muharemovic’s ankle.
The decision to issue a red card instead of a yellow card has been widely regarded as too severe.
“Yellow card, I can accept that,” remarked Pochettino. “But red card, and punished in the way they punish us, play 35 minutes with 10 men? It’s not enough? Come on guys. If I am the opponent I say, ‘Yes, coach, you are right. You are right.’ That’s it.”
In a statement regarding the suspension of Balogun’s ban, FIFA explained: “In line with article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year.
“If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”