The forward of the United States national team, Folarin Balogunassured this Friday that, when they told him that the FIFA withdrew his sanction for red card to be able to play against Belgiumthought it was a “joke” and found it “unreal.”
“Two days before the game against Belgium “They told me that they would allow me to play again and for me it was unreal, at first I thought it was a joke,” he said. Balogun during a talk with LeBron James open to the public Fanatics Fest in New York.
He Fanatics Fest is a multi-day fair that brings together hundreds of celebrities from the world of sports and entertainment, mostly Americans, which this year is held from July 16 to 19 at the Javits Center of New York and, coinciding with the final of the 2026 World Cupwill host the finalists’ previous press conferences.
“When they took my red card“I was shocked, I think most of the people watching were too, but I had to accept it,” he said.
Folarin Baloguntop scorer of the United States national team in it World Cup 2026 with three goals, he was sent off in the match round of 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina after the intervention of VAR for committing a violent foul in which he hit the Bosnian player’s leg with his studs Tarik Muharemovic.
“Mauricio Pochettino “He told me after that game: ‘Be ready, just be ready’, but I only thought he was saying it for the sake of saying it, to be able to help the team and keep morale high,” said the forward. Monaco.
“Then, I think it was two days before the game against Belgiumthe news came out that I was allowed to play again,” he added Balogun.
The withdrawal of the sanction match for Folarin Balogun came after the president of USA, donald trumpwill call the president of the FIFA, Gianni Infantinoto request that the governing body of football review the play because trump It seemed to him that “it wasn’t even a mistake.”