In a move that has sent shockwaves through the World Cup and raised more than a few eyebrows in the corridors of power in Zurich, Folarin Balogun is f...
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the World Cup and raised more than a few eyebrows in the corridors of power in Zurich, Folarin Balogun is free to lead the line for the United States against Belgium this week. GoalZaza can confirm that FIFA's disciplinary committee, citing a specific article of their own code, has suspended the one. game ban imposed on the striker for a red card in the last 32. The decision, announced on Sunday, prompted an immediate thank you from President Donald Trump, a man not usually associated with the finer points of the laws of the game.Let's be honest, this stinks of political pressure. The Belgium FA is said to be astonished, and frankly, they have every right to be. Rules are rules, or at least they are supposed to be. Balogun's red card, for a reckless but not malicious challenge, was a talking point. But to have it overturned on the eve of a knockout tie against the number two ranked side in the world That reeks of exceptionalism. It hands the US a colossal boost in the attacking third, a department where Balogun has been a persistent menace, bagging three goals in three starts with that clinical finishing we have come to admire.This is not just about a player returning to the lineup. This is about the message it sends. For Belgium, it is a bitter pill to swallow. They spent days preparing for the US transition game without their prime goal threat, setting up a low block and planning to dominate the ball. Now, they have to adjust. For the US, the psychological lift is immense. They can now field their most dangerous weapon in a match that represents their best chance of reaching the quarter finals since 2002. It is squeaky bum time for Roberto Martinez and his men, who now face a host nation armed with a red hot striker and the backing of the White House.One has to ask: what is the point of a disciplinary committee if its decisions can be so easily unpicked by political muscle The game's integrity takes a hit here, even if the spectacle benefits. Balogun is a fine player, a constant threat in transitional play, and his availability will undoubtedly make for a more entertaining contest. But the manner of his reinstatement leaves a sour taste. It feels like the beautiful game has been dragged into the mud of geopolitics, and that is never a good look. All focus now turns to the pitch, where Balogun has a chance to silence the controversy with his feet.
