Yes, we know. It’s about football. But, technically, it is.
And for those who don’t want to read about what the rest of the world calls “football,” don’t.
Regardless, U.S. striker Flo Balogun’s suspension for Monday night’s Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle has been confirmed.
While it appears that the chances of the ban being overturned fell somewhere between slim and none (and closer to none), there was a suggestion that he could be suspended for two games due to the controversial red card he received for inadvertently stepping on an opponent’s lower leg during Wednesday night’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Without Balogun (whose ejection left the U.S. team shorthanded for more than 30 minutes of game time), the American team doubled its 1-0 lead and advanced.
“It’s been a roller coaster,” Balogun told reporters on Friday. “There’s been lots of different emotions. . . . I’ve been upset. I’ve been happy. It’s been surreal, to be honest. But for me, I think it was just important to stay calm. I never want to react out of anger and out of emotion. There’s still lots of people we’re inspiring, little kids, boys and girls who are watching, and we have to show them the correct way to handle things even when you think it’s unjust.”
Unjust or otherwise, the U.S. will have to play without him on Monday. But at least they’ll have 11 players for the full game.
Unless there’s another red card.
