Mauricio Pochettino regrets not being ‘more involved’ with Balogun decision
US striker had red card ban suspended for Belgium game
TL;DR
- Mauricio Pochettino regrets not being more involved in the decision to overturn Folarin Balogun's red card suspension.
- Balogun received a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, leading to a one-game suspension.
- The US Soccer Federation and reportedly President Donald Trump lobbied Fifa to have the ban overturned.
- Fifa maintains the decision was made by its disciplinary committee independently.
- Pochettino believes the controversy generated negativity and affected the team's performance against Belgium.
- He suggested that decisions like these should be managed by a limited structure with fewer people involved.
- Pochettino's USMNT is scheduled to play Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada.