(AFP) – FIFA issued a reprieve to banned United States star Folarin Balogun on Sunday following a personal appeal from President Donald Trump, plunging the World Cup into uproar as Norway scored a stunning upset to send Brazil crashing out of the tournament.
A day of extraordinary drama both on and off the pitch began with FIFA confirming that Balogun was now free to play for the United States in Monday’s last-16 clash against Belgium after a red card ban was put on hold. It subsequently emerged that the bombshell ruling followed a personal call by Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino urging him to review Balogun’s punishment, two sources confirmed to AFP. Trump greeted news of FIFA’s decision with jubilation. “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
But the Royal Belgian Football Association reacted furiously, adding that it was “investigating all potential options” in response to the decision. “The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) is astonished by FIFA’s decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play in the USA-Belgium match on Monday,” it said in a statement. Belgium coach Rudi Garcia added: “I didn’t know that at the FIFA World Cup, the 5th of July is now the 1st of April, and that it’s April Fool’s Day.”
Balogun, who has scored three goals at this World Cup, had been set to miss Monday’s match after being sent off for inadvertently treading on Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic in the USA’s 2-0 victory in the last 32 on Wednesday. Under FIFA rules, a straight red card automatically triggers a one-game ban, which cannot be appealed by the player’s team. United States Soccer Federation officials had not attempted to challenge the sanction, and Balogun himself had accepted the punishment. But world football governing body FIFA said Sunday Balogun’s ban will now be suspended for a year, without offering any specific explanation.
– Haaland slays Brazil –
The off-field intrigue was swiftly followed by a seismic shock at East Rutherford, New Jersey, where two late goals from Erling Haaland gave Norway a 2-1 victory over five-time world champions Brazil. Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland produced a sensational display and saved a first-half penalty from Bruno Guimaraes before Haaland struck twice in the last 11 minutes to stun Brazil at MetLife Stadium. Haaland’s brace took him level with Lionel Messi on seven goals for the tournament as Norway booked a showdown against either co-hosts Mexico or England in Miami on July 11.
For Brazil, who hired Carlo Ancelotti in a bid to end a 24-year World Cup drought, it is the sixth straight tournament where they have been knocked out by European opposition. Sunday’s loss marked Brazil’s earliest exit at a World Cup since they were eliminated in the last 16 by Argentina in 1990. Nyland had given Norway belief after saving Guimaraes’ penalty in the first half, and as the match entered its final phase, Haaland made the breakthrough. The tall striker soared above Brazil defender Gabriel Magalhaes to head in Norway’s opener 11 minutes from time and then bludgeoned in a second from the edge of the area to make it 2-0. Neymar converted a late penalty deep into injury-time to give Brazil hope, but it was too little too late for the South Americans.
Later Sunday, all eyes will turn to the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City for a titanic showdown between England and co-hosts Mexico for the right to face Norway next week. England head into the game at the iconic football arena needing to overcome the challenge of altitude, with the Azteca sitting some 2,240 metres (7,350 feet) above sea level. After visiting the stadium on Saturday, England manager Thomas Tuchel said at his pre-match press conference: “It just catches you straight away once you get in here and see the excitement and see the emotions.” Sunday’s game is due to kick off at 6:00pm local time (0000 GMT). In the hours before kickoff, the stadium had been deluged by rain.
– Rob Woollard
© 2024 AFP
