Folarin Balogun speaks out on ban controversy after USA's 4-1 World Cup loss to Belgium
Thomas Bamford
Featured Image Credit: (Photo by John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images)
The USA's World Cup journey has come to an abrupt and painful end, and it's fair to say nobody saw a result quite this bad coming.
Gregg Berhalter's side were beaten 4-1 by Belgium in the round of 16, in a match that had been overshadowed for days by the ongoing saga surrounding Folarin Balogun's suspended red card ban.
President Donald Trump had personally spoken with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, asking the governing body to review the red card Balogun picked up against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The day before the game, it was confirmed the striker would be free to feature against Belgium, a decision that left the Europeans furious.
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In the end, though, Belgium had the last laugh. A brace from Charles de Ketelaere, along with goals from Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku, secured a comfortable win for the Red Devils and sent the co-hosts packing.
Elsewhere on the same day, Spain knocked Portugal out of the competition thanks to a late winner from Mikel Merino, with the Arsenal midfielder ghosting in to slot a low finish past Diogo Costa, bringing an end to Cristiano Ronaldo's so-called 'last dance' at a World Cup.
Last night's 4-1 exit was the USA's heaviest World Cup defeat in 36 years, with their last loss of this scale coming against Czechoslovakia back in 1990.
Empty seats could be seen scattered around the Seattle crowd well before full-time, as the wave of optimism that had built up among American fans throughout the tournament appeared to evaporate in real time, with the whole occasion having been overshadowed by Trump's intervention over Balogun's ban in the first place.
Speaking after the game, Balogun addressed the controversy head-on. "When you're given a red card, usually the protocol is you don't play in the following game. Then, when that decision's overturned, of course, it's going to be controversial," he said.
"So it didn't really surprise me too much. But as a player my job is just to go out there and focus on my job. And I'm disappointed we weren't able to win today."
He added: "I accepted the decision when I was given the red card, and then I also accepted the decision when I was told I could play. There's not too much else I can really say on the matter. All that being said, Belgium were the better team today. They played much better than us."
The US Team Coach Mauricio Pochettino said he was heartbroken about the result, claming the team 'need to learn'.
he said: "It's a process to learn. We need to see why we did not approach the game in the same way as the rest of the World Cup.
"Maybe the explanation is easy, it just wasn't our day. The responsibility is myself. We need to check what we did because it's not the performance the way we played."
Away from the pitch, FIFA has been forced to defend Brazilian referee Raphael Claus after Trump described him as 'suspect' for showing Balogun the red card in the first place.
Trump made the comments while defending his phone call with Infantino, the same call that triggered Balogun's ban being suspended for 12 months.
FIFA hit back with a statement backing their official, saying: "FIFA recognises Raphael Claus as one of the world's leading professional referees and a valued member of Team One, FIFA's elite group of referees, at the FIFA World Cup. Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and integrity."
FIFA's referee chief Pierluigi Collina also came to Claus's defence, adding: "Raphael Claus is refereeing at his second FIFA World Cup, having been with us in Qatar in 2022. He is an experienced and highly respected referee, and we maintain full confidence in him as a trusted match official."
Elsewhere in the competition, England have already booked their place in the quarter-finals following a dramatic 3-2 win over co-hosts Mexico, and will now face Norway for a spot in the last four.