Balogun Starts U.S. Round-of-16 Match After FIFA Suspends 1-Game Ban
Updated
Updated · ESPN · Jul 6
Balogun Starts U.S. Round-of-16 Match After FIFA Suspends 1-Game Ban
3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jul 6
Summary
Mauricio Pochettino restored Folarin Balogun to the U.S. starting XI against Belgium after FIFA cleared him to play in Monday’s World Cup round-of-16 match in Seattle.
A FIFA panel suspended the striker’s red card from the 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, replacing the automatic suspension with a one-year probation.
Pochettino kept the same lineup from the previous round as the United States chased its first World Cup quarterfinal since 2002.
Belgium’s selection added another surprise: Rudi Garcia left Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku out of his starting lineup.
The eligibility ruling has drawn sharp backlash from Belgium and UEFA, while Gianni Infantino defended the panel’s independence after Donald Trump said he had asked about the case.