The red card issued to U.S. striker Folarin Balogun on Wednesday night was controversial. The sudden suspension of the supposedly automatic one-game suspension has created even more controversy.
At first, it also caused shock for the U.S. team.
“I think a lot of us thought it was AI at first,” U.S. defender Chris Richards said, via ESPN. “We weren’t sure if it was true or not.”
But the U.S. team knew how to take yes for an answer.
“We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow,” a statement from U.S. Soccer explained. “Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans.”
The Royal Belgian Football Association had a slightly different reaction; the group said it is “investigating all potential options.” The RBFA also said it is “astonished” by the decision, citing the various rules that would seem to make Balogun’s suspension not subject to reversal.
Some suspect chicanery, despite FIFA’s untarnished reputation for integrity. The New York Times (somebody put baby in the corner, after all) reports that President Trump directly called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked him to review the matter.
It’s a strange feeling for those who want to see the U.S. keep going. Yes, something seems fishy. But we stand to benefit from the fishiness. It’s hard to feel good about that, without knowing with certainty that the suspension of the suspension was legitimate and not the product of backroom shenanigans.
We’ll see where it goes from here. Given the way the situation has unfolded so far, it would be wise to expect something unexpected.
