АНУ-ын шигшээ багийн довтлогчийн торгуулийг АНУ-ын Ерөнхийлөгч Дональд Трампын оролцоотойгоор хүчингүй болгосон нь олон улсын хэмжээнд маргаан дагуулаад байна.
Босни ба Херцеговины эсрэг тоглолтод улаан хуудас авсан Фоларин Балогуны торгуулийг ФИФА нэг жилийн хугацаатайгаар түдгэлзүүлснээр тэрээр даваа гарагт болох Бельгийн эсрэг шөвгийн 16-гийн тоглолтод оролцох боломжтой боллоо. Бельгийн хөлбөмбөгийн холбоо энэхүү шийдвэрийг тэмцээний дүрэм журмыг шууд зөрчсөн үйлдэл хэмээн үзэж, ФИФА-гаас албан ёсны тайлбар болон шүүгчийн тайланг шаарджээ.
Бельгийн шигшээ багийн дасгалжуулагч Руди Гарсиа уг нөхцөл байдлыг хөлбөмбөгийн ёс зүй болон шударга өрсөлдөөнд харшилсан урьд хожид байгаагүй шийдвэр гэж шүүмжилсэн байна. Тэрээр өөрийн баг энэ асуудлыг бус, харин хөлбөмбөгийн шударга байдлыг хамгаалж байгааг онцлоод, талбай дээрх тоглолтдоо л анхаарлаа хандуулах болно гэв.
АНУ-ын дасгалжуулагч Маурисио Почеттино уг шийдвэрийг зөвтгөж, шударга ёс ялсан гэж мэдэгдлээ. Түүний үзэж буйгаар, өмнөх тоглолтод хүнгүйгээр 30 гаруй минут тоглосон АНУ-ын шигшээ баг харин ч хохирогч болсон тул энэ нь ямар нэгэн давуу тал олгоогүй гэжээ.
Дональд Трамп энэ асуудлаар ФИФА-гийн ерөнхийлөгч Жанни Инфантинотой утсаар ярьсны дараа уг шийдвэр гарсан бөгөөд Трамп өөрийн цахим хуудсаараа дамжуулан ФИФА-д талархал илэрхийлсэн байна. АНУ болон Бельгийн шигшээ багуудын тоглолт даваа гарагт Сиэтл хотын Лүмэн Филд цэнгэлдэхэд болно.
Дэлгэрэнгүй эх сурвалжийг харах
Эх сурвалжийг нээх ↓
Belgium has requested a formal explanation of why Folarin Balogun has had his one-game suspension for a red card overturned by FIFA.
Despite being dismissed against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the USMNT striker is now available to face Belgium in the round of 16 on Monday night after an intervention involving U.S. President Donald Trump, government officials, U.S. Soccer and an extensive legal team.
The Belgian federation said it was “astonished” by FIFA’s decision to suspend the ban for a period of one year, citing Article 27 of its disciplinary code.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said in a statement the move was in “direct contradiction” of the competition regulations and said it is exploring “all potential options.”
Sources briefed on the matter, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, have told The Athletic the federation has now requested the full rationale behind the decision to lift Balogun’s suspension, as well as the report from FIFA’s refereeing body. FIFA’s disciplinary committee can decide against sharing its rationale.
FIFA has been approached for comment. The USMNT’s last-16 tie against Belgium kicks off at 5pm PT (8pm ET) at Lumen Field in Seattle on Monday.
Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia joked that he wondered if the whole situation was an April Fools prank before pointing to the questions now being raised by many observers about the integrity of FIFA’s competition.
“The Belgian federation isn’t just defending itself or the national team; it’s defending football in general — its integrity and its ethics,” Garcia added in a news conference Sunday.
“As far as I recall, I think this is the first time in World Cup history that a decision like this has been made. Anyway, I’m the coach, so I’m going to focus on my team and the match — it doesn’t matter who makes up the USA’s starting lineup. What matters to me is the pitch, my team, winning, and reaching the quarterfinals.”
FollowingThe Athletic’s exclusive story,a New York Times report stated that Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino in the wake of Wednesday’s game to ask for a review into Balogun’s suspension.
A source familiar with the situation confirmed toThe Athletic that a call did take place.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump posted on Truth Social after the news had broken.
Trump’s role in the suspension being overturned is under scrutiny. (Mandel Ngan / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
Balogun has started in all but one game for the U.S., scoring twice in the team’s opener against Paraguay. He was rested in the dead-rubber final group game against Turkey before returning to score in the first half against Bosnia.
Balogun’s U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino defended FIFA’s decision and was adamant justice had been done after a red card he believed should never have been shown.
“For me, there isn’t much debate here, though I do understand Belgium’s perspective and Rudi’s point of view,” Pochettino told reporters. “I understand why people conflate issues — people always do, because there’s often an agenda to mix things up — but in this case, I don’t think it’s right.
“If anyone was harmed in this whole situation, it was the United States. Can anyone justify the idea that weweren’tpunished? I mean, playing 30 or 35 minutes a man down in a World Cup knockout match? It’s not as if we’re benefiting. No, no. There’s no extraordinary gain we’re getting out of all this. I mean, ultimately, we aren’t victims, but we aren’t the villains of this story either.”
