After 24 hours of controversy, Balogun fails to save America against Belgium sports

After American striker Folarin Balogun dominated the world’s soccer headlines for 24 hours, he received only a minor mention in Tuesday’s match against Belgium as the co-host country exited the tournament in the round of 16.

The three goals scored by the 25-year-old player and his role in creating play in the attack helped the United States top its group and defeat Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32.

Balogun disappeared in front of Belgium

However, US fans feared they would be deprived of their most powerful weapon in the round of 16 in Seattle after he received a red card in the Bosnia match, resulting in an automatic one-match ban.

Then FIFA made a controversial decision to suspend Balogun’s punishment, and US President Donald Trump claimed credit for it.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the federation’s arbitration committees worked “independently and autonomously”, but the reversal sparked accusations that FIFA had bowed to political pressure, while Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said it must have been an April Fools’ Day joke.

Balogun’s background was also highlighted.

The player obtained American citizenship by birth after his Nigerian mother was unable to return to London from a trip to New York because she was in a very advanced stage of pregnancy and was unable to travel by air.

She returned her newborn son to Britain when he was one month old, where he grew up before eventually choosing to represent the United States.

Trump has repeatedly called for the abolition of birthright citizenship.

Despite the international outcry against FIFA’s decision, American midfielder Tyler Adams said after the match that the team was not aware of this controversy.

The fans attending the match at Seattle Stadium cheered enthusiastically for Balogun when he entered the field. But throughout the match he had difficulty overcoming Belgium’s solid defence.

Adams said that Balogun “tried today to be present and annoying, and sometimes he received the ball deep and did what he does best, but he did not have many opportunities.”