US star Balogun knew red card reversal would ‘cause a lot of controversy’
US striker Folarin Balogun addressed the controversy surrounding FIFA's decision to suspend his red card ban following an intervention by President Donald Trump. Balogun acknowledged the resulting tension and 'outside noise' that impacted the team during the World Cup knockout stages.
Why it matters
The incident highlights concerns regarding political influence in international sports governance and the integrity of tournament disciplinary processes.
The striker says FIFA’s decision to suspend his one-match ban led to ‘a lot of outside noise’ before USA’s knockout match.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Folarin Balogun was sent off during the USA's match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup knockout stages [Carlos Barria/Reuters] By Adam Hancock and Reuters Published On 15 Jul 2026 15 Jul 2026 US striker Folarin Balogun says he expected “a lot of controversy” after FIFA suspended his one-game ban at the World Cup following United States President Donald Trump’s request to review the decision.
Balogun was sent off during his team’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the last 32, but FIFA controversially suspended his ban for a one-year probationary period. The striker has spoken about the incident for the first time in an interview with CBS Mornings on Tuesday.
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