Balogun's red-card reprieve gives Belgium extra motivation, warns Carli Lloyd

FIFA’s decision to rescind Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension has reshaped the build-up to the United States’ Copa América match against Belgium in Seattle, with Fox Sports analyst Carli Lloyd warning that the ruling hands Belgium an unexpected source of motivation going into the game.

“Balogun now has a bullseye on him,” Lloyd said. “If I was a Belgian player, I wouldn’t want to give him a sniff on goal. I wouldn’t want to see him try to score.” Lloyd, who had argued the original challenge did not merit a red card, said the timing of the reversal — confirmed just a day before kick-off — creates an uncomfortable dynamic for both the player and the US team. “I just think it’s a bit unfair for Balogun, a bit unfair for the US team, and they’re going to have to kind of roll the sleeves up and get to work today.”

Alexi Lalas acknowledged the ruling cuts both ways. While Belgium can feel aggrieved at having insufficient time to adjust their preparation, Lalas argued the Belgians were already confident of beating the United States regardless of Balogun’s availability. “Belgium, with or without Balogun, looked at this US team in this particular moment as a team that they can beat,” he said.

For the Americans, however, the reinstatement of a forward who has been one of the tournament’s standout performers is a significant lift. “If you’re Balogun, you hit a new lease on life,” Lalas said. “This man has had a wonderful tournament, and he gets to go on the field where only 24 hours ago he didn’t think he was going to.”

Clint Dempsey directed his frustration at the appeal process itself, arguing that the system needs to operate far more quickly to avoid situations like this one. “It should be done better, it should be done quicker,” Dempsey said. “Sometimes refs get it wrong, and there should be an appeal process that’s quicker, so that you don’t have these types of situations. Because you want your best players on the pitch.”

Lloyd echoed those concerns, adding that a Belgium side that has struggled for consistency in this tournament did not need any additional incentive. “You don’t need to give a team any extra motivation to want to beat a team,” she said. “The timing of all this is very bizarre — the day before a game — and this is a little worrisome for me.”