SEATTLE — One day after the decision to overturn his red card that engulfed the World Cup in controversy, Folarin Balogun was indeed in the U.S. men’s national team’s lineup to face Belgium on Monday.
The Royal Belgian Football Association, in one of two statements released Monday, had said that it “has informed the United States Soccer Federation that it contests the eligibility of the player [Balogun], should the player be listed on the referee’s team sheet. This leaves all further options open.”
Though it’s not entirely clear, that would seem to refer to a potential appeal in the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
After FIFA’s initial reversal, though, any court decision now would seemingly be symbolic in nature, given that the quarterfinal will be played by the USMNT-Belgium winner on Friday in Los Angeles — presumably too little time to go through a legal process or to replay the game.
Still, Balogun’s inclusion will only continue to fan the flames.
Mauricio Pochettino’s lineup was completely unchanged from the 11 players who started against Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as the opener against Paraguay.
Rudi Garcia’s lineup for Belgium, on the other hand, included a surprise as both Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku were on the bench, with Nicholas Raskin and Dodi Lukebakio starting instead.
Both De Bruyne and Doku came off early in the second half of Belgium’s Round of 32 win against Senegal, with the changes having a positive impact for the Red Devils.
