Garcia calls it an April Fool's joke as FIFA reinstates Balogun for USA vs Belgium

FIFA’s reversal of Folarin Balogun’s one-match suspension has thrown the USA’s round of 16 clash against Belgium in Seattle on Monday into sharper relief, with the two managers reacting in starkly contrasting fashion at their respective press conferences on Sunday.

Balogun had been sent off in the 64th minute of the United States’ round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina after a lengthy VAR review overturned the original no-call, leaving the Americans to finish the match with 10 men. A red card automatically triggers at least a one-game ban under standard FIFA rules — making the governing body’s subsequent decision to rescind the suspension all the more extraordinary.

Belgium manager Rudi Garcia did not hide his disbelief. “I didn’t know that at FIFA’s headquarters, July 5 is the same thing as April 1,” Garcia said at his press conference. “It’s a discovery for me.” The Belgian federation went further in a formal statement, saying it was “astonished” and is “investigating all potential options” regarding FIFA’s decision.

The mood could hardly have been more different inside the U.S. camp. Players were described as buzzing at Sunday morning training, and Mauricio Pochettino arrived at his press conference smiling and relaxed. “I think we celebrate that decision,” Pochettino told a packed room of reporters. “We were punished enough against Bosnia and Herzegovina to play with 10 men for 30 minutes in a decision that was completely unfair. I think 99.9% [of people] agree that was an unfair red card.”

Pochettino acknowledged Garcia’s frustration, calling him a “great coach” and a “great person”, but maintained that “everyone that really loves the sport and trusts its ethical integrity, we all celebrate that decision.”

The U.S. manager also pointed to a recent precedent: FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee made a comparable ruling that allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to feature in Portugal’s first two games at a previous World Cup after receiving a red card in a qualifier. Under standard FIFA rules, Ronaldo had faced a three-game ban but ultimately missed only one pre-tournament friendly.

Pochettino said he did not learn of Balogun’s reinstatement until Sunday morning, just before the team’s training session. Asked about any social media activity or reported external involvement in the decision, he deflected with a joke: “I was training, then climbing into the shower, eating so quick, and was taking the coffee into the car. I didn’t have time to see social media.”