Two US soccer team staff members suspended by FIFA for Belgium World Cup game
FIFA has officially rejected Belgium’s attempt to keep US soccer star Flo Baliham from playing in tonight’s game, so he’s expected to be out there on the field, but this is still *** major controversy and it’s casting *** shadow over the World Cup due to the unprecedented nature of President Donald Trump getting directly involved. All I did, I asked for *** review because I didn’t think it was *** foul. And you know, again, I’m good at this stuff. I didn’t think it was *** foul. I thought it was two great athletes that crashed into each other and got entangled. That’s President Donald Trump explaining why he called FIFA’s president to protest *** red card issued at the World Cup. US star player Fuller and Baligan was supposed to miss tonight’s knockout. Game against Belgium after getting that red card in the win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, but FIFA president Gianni Infantino says he told President Trump the case is now going to be decided by independent judicial bodies. So while that’s pending, Baligan can play. The game tonight’s going to be amazing, and we’re going to have *** full team, and Belgium’s going to have *** full team. And you know what, if they beat us. Then they can be really proud. Belgium tried appealing the decision, but FIFA’s appeal committee rejected the request as inadmissible, saying Belgium was not *** party to the case and has no standing to appeal. The Union of European Football Associations said FIFA crossed *** red line and warned the integrity of the game is at stake. So bottom line, Team USA will be at full strength for tonight’s game, but the bigger question is not going away regarding President Trump’s impact on these games at the White House. I’m Christopher Sales.
Two US soccer team staff members suspended by FIFA for Belgium World Cup game
Two staff members of the U.S. soccer team were suspended by FIFA from Monday’s round of 16 game against Belgium.Video above: President Trump’s FIFA call puts Balogun back on field, sparks integrity questionsFIFA did not explain why it imposed the discipline on team manager Sam Zapatka and U.S. Soccer Federation vice president of security Frank Pannell.The USSF did not give a reason Tuesday other than to say it was not related to the successful effort to have forward Folarin Balogun’s one-game, red-card suspension lifted.Zapatka has been the team’s administrative manager since 2020 and has worked for the USSF since 2015.The U.S. was eliminated from the World Cup with a 4-1 loss to Belgium.
Two staff members of the U.S. soccer team were suspended by FIFA from Monday’s round of 16 game against Belgium.
Video above: President Trump’s FIFA call puts Balogun back on field, sparks integrity questions
FIFA did not explain why it imposed the discipline on team manager Sam Zapatka and U.S. Soccer Federation vice president of security Frank Pannell.
The USSF did not give a reason Tuesday other than to say it was not related to the successful effort to have forward Folarin Balogun’s one-game, red-card suspension lifted.
Zapatka has been the team’s administrative manager since 2020 and has worked for the USSF since 2015.
The U.S. was eliminated from the World Cup with a 4-1 loss to Belgium.
