USA soccer star Folarin Balogun has issued an apology to fans following the team's exit from the World Cup, a tournament performance marred by controversy surrounding a red card and a subsequent intervention by former President Donald Trump.
Balogun, who plays for Monaco, was sent off against Bosnia in the Round of 32. This resulted in a one-match ban that would have kept him from playing against Belgium. However, former President Trump reportedly contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request the ban be overturned. FIFA subsequently reviewed the case and suspended Balogun's ban, clearing him to play against Belgium.
The Belgian FA expressed strong objections to this decision, launching an appeal to FIFA. The appeal was ultimately rejected, allowing Balogun to participate in the match. Despite his presence, the USMNT lost to Belgium 4-1, resulting in their elimination from the tournament. The peak viewership for the match reached 37 million.
Following the team's departure, Balogun took to Instagram to express his regret. "It hurts to wait 4 years to compete at the highest level our sport has to offer," he wrote. "I want to say sorry to our fans it was not good enough when it mattered most and we let you down." He added a message of future optimism, stating, "Soccer in America will only become bigger the belief, the talent, and the passion is continually growing and I know the best days are in front of us, the future belongs to those who never stop believing, this moment will fuel us. We will be back."
Balogun's post received support from former USMNT players like Jozy Altidore and positive commentary from figures such as FOX's lead host Rebecca Lowe. However, the controversy surrounding his eligibility and Trump's involvement has drawn significant attention and debate.
Balogun will now serve his one-match suspension during the next international duty period. The incident highlighted unusual FIFA disciplinary procedures and sparked frustration among some football associations.
The team's elimination represents a significant setback after years of preparation, with many critics, including former USMNT players Landon Donovan and Carli Lloyd, expressing disappointment with the performance.
