Folarin Balogun Says Controversy From Trump's FIFA Call Negatively Affected Team
TMZ • • sports
Key Points:
- U.S. soccer star Folarin Balogun initially felt excited when his red card suspension was lifted, allowing him to play in the World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium.
- However, Balogun soon realized the controversy caused tension and nerves among his teammates, affecting team morale ahead of the crucial game.
- The U.S. was defeated 4-1 by Belgium, with the match overshadowed by the earlier red card incident from Balogun’s penalty against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- The suspension was overturned after President Donald Trump intervened, contacting FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the decision, leading to Balogun’s reinstatement under a probationary period.
- Despite being allowed to play, Balogun acknowledged that the external controversy and media attention created distractions that may have negatively impacted the team’s performance.
