RJ Hamster
SI:AM | FIFA’s Shocking Folarin Balogun Reversal
DAN GARTLAND
Good morning, I’m Dan Gartland. I don’t think there’s any way we will see a game at this World Cup better than England-Mexico.
In today’s SI:AM:
🇺🇸 Balogun set to play
🇳🇴 Haaland excels in Norway upset
🇧🇷 Brazil squanders World Cup opportunity
USMNT catches a break
Phil Noble/Reuters
The U.S. men’s national team is set to benefit from one of the most controversial off-field decisions in the history of the World Cup.
FIFA announced yesterday that U.S. forward Folarin Balogun’s one-game ban for being shown a red card will be suspended for a probationary period of one year. In simpler terms: Balogun will be allowed to play in the team’s round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday night. (Belgium is appealing the decision.)
⚽ Check out SI’s World Cup Daily
Balogun, who has been the team’s best offensive player throughout the tournament, received a red card in the 64th minute of the U.S.’s round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina after he stepped on the back of Tarik Muharemović’s leg as the two battled for possession. The decision to show Balogun a straight red card after a video review was widely criticized, as the contact with Muharemović seemed merely incidental. Nonetheless, FIFA’s rules are clear: A player who receives a red card will automatically miss their team’s next match. Teams are not allowed to appeal a red card ban.
The rules don’t say anything about a country’s head of state making a personal appeal to the president of FIFA, though.
President Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino hours after the red card was issued on Wednesday to lobby for the decision to be reconsidered, according to multiple reports. (The New York Times first reported the news.) The Guardian reported that Trump called Infantino three times.
U.S. fans will feel relieved that a key player will be available for one of the biggest games in the team’s history, but the way the decision was reversed should also make them feel slimy.CONTINUE DAN’S COLUMN ON SI
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👀 The top five …
… moments from England’s wild win over Mexico:
5. Harry Kane’s postgame interview after he’d lost his voice by screaming for 90 minutes.
4. Mexican legend Guillermo Ochoa’s emotional reaction after the final whistle. The 40-year-old, who has made more than 150 appearances for the national team, was consoled by his teammates.
3. Jude Bellingham’s clearance to save a Mexico goal.
2. Jordan Pickford’s leaping save to deny a would-be game-tying goal in the first half.
1. Julián Quiñones’s skillful finish to score Mexico’s first goal.
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