Pochettino Regrets Limited Role in Balogun Red Card Saga

US coach Mauricio Pochettino admits he should have been more involved in the controversial suspension of Folarin Balogun at the World Cup.

Mauricio Pochettino

coach

View profile →

What happened. US men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed regret for not being more involved in the situation surrounding forward Folarin Balogun's red card at the World Cup. Balogun's suspension for the next game against Belgium was suspended after lobbying by the US Soccer Federation and President Donald Trump.

• Balogun was sent off after a challenge on Bosnia and Herzegovina's Tarik Muharemović.
• Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the ruling.
• Infantino insists FIFA's disciplinary committee made the decision independently.

“I regret not being more involved.”

— Mauricio Pochettino

Pochettino's comments are his most direct since the World Cup, highlighting tensions over political interference in football governance.

In this story

Mauricio PochettinoF. Balogun

More to read

The Guardian

Infantino under pressure to include abandoned World Cup sell-off plan in external Fifa review

BBC Sport

Liverpool watch £51.5m-rated Smit - Saturday's gossip

Mirror Football

Premier League responds after Mauricio Pochettino calls for Chelsea to be stripped of title

BBC Sport

Can you make a case for Chelsea being stripped of 2016-17 title?