World Cup

[Halldan]

Folarin Balogun cleared to play for USMNT as desperate Belgium appeal fails​

Folarin Balogun cleared to play for USMNT as desperate Belgium appeal fails

Belgium’s appealed FIFA’s decision on Folarin Balogun’s red card.

nypost.com

 

[Hall-O-Daze]

It's really unfortunate because now if the US advances any further there will be many calls for it being tainted or cheating. What's sadder is the US Men's team didn't ask for any of the controversy that's erupted in the last 24 hours or so. It's not their fault.

This won't be the popular opinion, but maybe it's best to sit him - or at least not start him. They would be underdogs against Belgium with or without Balogun.

If they sit Balogun and win then that ends the controversy. I guess that's what it comes down to: playing with a disadvantage and lose, or playing with a disadvantage and winning without any further controversy. If he plays and the US wins, we'll never hear the end of it - trust me, I'm a Patriots fan and even I can't believe idiots still bring up "deflategate": the most overblown sports story of the 21st century.

 

[Seton75]

FIFA is corrupt. I think we bribed the right guy in this case. Would not be the first or last time that will happen.

There is no truth to the rumor that trump took 100k off of the 5 mill trump gold card...

 

[HALL85]

I hope they win the appeal, and he is ruled out for the game.

I want the USA to win as much as anyone...but if he plays, if we win, the win is tainted; if we lose, the world will simply say that we got what we deserved.

Either way, this mess has taken the focus off of what has been a terrific World Cup for USA thus far, and I would rather we win tonight, without Balogun, and then move on to the next match. No questions asked.

Just seeing that FIFA rejected the appeal. Balogun plays.

By the way, is there a more corrupt organization than FIFA?

NCAA is pretty darn close, but they also have FIFA beat by a mile when it comes to incompetence.

 

[HallB]

Everyone was up in arms over the red card to Balogun and now his red is removed (rightfully so) and everyone is up in arms over it. It was a bad call then, and it was the right thing to do so the best goal scorer on USA was not suspended for a knockout round game. My take is that if Belgium won vs. USA without Balogun then that would be an asterisk victory.