CONTROVERSIAL USA star Folarin Balogun sparked an injury scare during warm-up ahead of a heated World Cup tie with Belgium.
Balogun, 25, who is the Stars and Stripes’ top goalscorer in the competition – co-hosted by the United States – made headlines around the globe after having a red card shockingly lifted.
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USA star Folarin Balogun sparked injury concern with a strapping on his left leg and knee Credit: AP: Associated Press
Balogun sparked controversy after having a red card lifted by Fifa after US president Donald Trump’s request Credit: AP:Associated Press
The striker starts for Team USA in a tense last-16 tie at the Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.
President Donald Trump and Fifa chief Gianni Infantino sparked outrage after the Monaco star’s red card reversal from the last-32 match against Bosnia & Herzegovina.
The ex-Arsenal ace was correctly shown a straight red card that was backed by VAR after a rough challenge that bent Tarik Muharemovic’s ankle and was thus set to miss the match against a superior Belgium.
However, Trump, 80, admitted he personally called Infantino, 56, and asked him to review the decision as he mistakenly thought it was unfair before Fifa lifted Balogun’s red card with a one-year probation.
POTUS praised the reversal as “beautiful,” and commended the Fifa president as a “smart, tough man” whose “stock has gone through the roof.”
The unpopular decision sparked fury within football with Belgium chiefs and Uefa chastising the governing body’s handling of the situation.
USA manager Mauricio Pochettino hailed the decision and reinstated the centre-forward in his starting-line-up.
But the ex-Reims star was spotted with a strapping on his left leg and knee during warm-up.
Nevertheless, that didn’t stop the USA international from taking to the field with his team-mates in the nation’s capital.
This comes after news that Balogun was hit with a $40,000 fine – half of which is payable by US Soccer.
Belgium appealed the decision to allow Balogun to play and threatened to demand USA are kicked out of the World Cup.
Confirming their appeal against Balogun’s clearance to play had been rejected, team chiefs said: “To date, the Royal Belgian FA has still not received any grounds for this decision, nor has it received the information it has been requesting since the start of this procedure.
“Fifa has yet to provide us with a copy of the decision and the motivation declaring the player eligible as well as the referee’s report – this is a breach of Fifa regulations.
“The RBFA has informed the United States Soccer Federation that it contests the eligibility of the player, should the player be listed on the referee’s team sheet. This leaves all further actions open.”
As refusing to play if Balogun is selected would lead to a forfeit, Belgium indicated their likely actions before the match.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has the ability to hold an expedited hearing over the next 48 hours.
CAS can also make a final decision before the scheduled quarter-final date in Los Angeles on Friday.
Belgium will argue that the USMNT had fielded an ineligible player under Fifa’s regulations.
And that a player receiving a red card must have a mandatory minimum one game suspension.
