Folarin Balogun reveals how Trump’s World Cup intervention impacted US team

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleUSA striker Folarin Balogun admitted he anticipated significant controversy following the intervention of Donald Trump in overturning his World Cup suspension, which allowed him to play against Belgium. Balogun received a red card in the USA's match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but Fifa's disciplinary committee subsequently suspended the one-match ban for a year, enabling him to feature in the subsequent game. Balogun told CBS that he felt Trump’s intervention left his team-mates feeling nervous ahead of their match against Belgium, which they lost 4-1.Human rights organisation FairSquare lodged a formal complaint with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), alleging that Fifa president Gianni Infantino violated rules on political neutrality through his interactions with Donald Trump, who publicly acknowledged his personal intervention. The Times reported that Mohammad Al Kamali, the disciplinary committee chair, unilaterally made the decision to suspend Balogun's ban, a move described as unprecedented in his disciplinary history, with Fifa yet to provide an explanation. In fullFolarin Balogun admits Trump’s ‘unique’ World Cup intervention affected US team before Belgium lossMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

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