FIFA Suspends Balogun's One-Match Ban, Coach Pochettino Welcomes Decision
Balogun Available for Knockout Match Against Belgium
Seattle [US], July 6: The head coach of the United States, Mauricio Pochettino, has expressed his approval of FIFA's recent decision to lift the automatic one-match suspension on Folarin Balogun. This ruling allows Balogun to participate in the upcoming Round of 16 match against Belgium in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
In a press conference prior to the crucial match, Pochettino emphasized that this decision upholds the principles of fairness and integrity within the sport. He stated, “Anyone who values ethics in sports should celebrate this ruling,” as reported by various media outlets.
Pochettino also pointed out that his team had already faced significant consequences from what he deemed an unjust red card during their last game against Bosnia and Herzegovina. “We suffered enough in that match, having to play with ten players for 35 minutes due to a completely unfair decision,” he remarked.
FIFA had previously announced that Balogun's automatic suspension would be put on hold for a year, as per Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee confirmed this in their statement, indicating that the suspension would not be enforced during this probationary period.
Balogun received a red card in the 64th minute of the United States' 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite being a man down, the co-hosts managed to advance to the knockout stage, with Balogun contributing three goals in the tournament thus far.
However, the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has voiced strong objections to FIFA's decision, labeling it unexpected and stating that they are considering all options to safeguard their interests. In an official statement, the RBFA expressed their astonishment at Balogun's eligibility for the match against the USA and questioned the legal grounds for this ruling.
While acknowledging FIFA's reliance on Article 27, the Belgian federation pointed out that other regulations clearly stipulate an automatic suspension following a red card. They referenced Article 66.4 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which mandates that a red card results in a suspension for the next match, a standard upheld throughout the tournament.