Balogun Decision Sparks Controversy
The US men's national team has received a major boost ahead of their round of 16 match against Belgium, as star forward Folarin Balogun will be eligible to play after a surprising reversal by FIFA. However, FOX Sports soccer analyst Alexi Lalas believes this decision may make the USA squad a target for the rest of the tournament.
"Long live Article 27. If you've got a problem with it, take it up with FIFA," Lalas said during FOX Sports' "World Cup Live." "This is some surprising, but very, very welcome news to the U.S. men's national team."
"I will say this: It is now USA vs. the world after this decision," Lalas continued, "because any support or a treaty or benefit of the doubt kind of just went out the window with this, because we will be seen after this, and we're already starting to see, some of this as being given special treatment right now. But you know what, it doesn't matter. Us against the world, that's fine."
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee initially handed Balogun an automatic one-game red card suspension, but the reversal has placed him on a one-year probation under Chapter 4, Article 27 of the disciplinary code. This comes after Balogun scored the game-winning goal in the USA's 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, only to be shown a straight red card following a VAR review.
The timing of the decision has been criticized, with the ruling confirmed just one day before the knockout match, forcing both coaching staffs to adjust their plans. Thierry Henry, who coached Belgium as an assistant manager, noted that the reversal places an unfair burden on the Belgian side, which had spent days planning for an American lineup without its primary striker.
"That's exactly what it is for Belgium, breaking news," Henry explained. "That must have broke their spirit a tiny bit because also you prepare the game to play a certain way and then suddenly, you have to change also your preparation of the game."
Lalas agreed with the Belgian perspective, but he said the USA squad shouldn't take it into account. "I do agree with you that it hurts the preparation for Belgium. [and] what they prepared for, and now they're going to have to change it," Lalas said. "But I don't think Mauricio Pochettino cares."
With Balogun returning to the starting lineup and Ricardo Pepi likely reverting to the bench, Lalas concluded that having the full complement of attacking players is necessary to advance. "In order for the US to win this game tomorrow, right here against Belgium, they need all guns blazing, and without a gun in Flo Balogun, that was a big, big miss," Lalas explained. "Happy to see this guy who's had such a wonderful tournament, and we don't want to be deprived of stars, and make no mistake, he is a star."
