The United States Men’s National Team received a controversial but massive boost ahead of their FIFA World Cup Round of 16 game against Belgium in Seattle. FIFA’s disciplinary committee suspended the automatic one-match ban handed to American star striker Folarin Balogun, making him eligible to start on Monday.
Multiple NFL personalities shared their reactions to the news on Sunday on X.
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“We’re adding a Balogun goal to this list tomorrow 🇺🇸,” Tom Brady tweeted.
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“Flo is back 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸,” San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle posted on X.
“FIFA got it right. Eventually,” NFL analyst Colin Cowherd tweeted.
“Up and Adams Show” host Kay Adams posted a picture of herself looking surprised with the text:
“What do you mean Balogun is available tomorrow?”
“Well that certainly changes things. And for anyone saying this is beyond the pale…remember 2 things: it’s FIFA – and they did this for Ronaldo allowing him to play in the 1st two games for Portugal,” NFL analyst Trey Wingo tweeted.
“Wow. The fact that it was the Global Governing body going against their own system … that they didn’t even follow .. is incredible,” Fox’s Harold R. Kuntz posted.
“I mean that red card was BS in the first place and this is a tacit admission of that, but to do that to a team like Belgium 24 hours before the game is kind of….yeah. I’ll take it since we’re the beneficiaries, but we all know what it is,” Broncos insider Benjamin Albright wrote on X.
“Shout out FIFA. I think we can all agree FIFA is a great organization that always does the right thing and in no way is this about it directly benefiting USMNT,” Barstool Sports’ Dan Katz tweeted.
“Imo the red card was bs, so it’s the correct outcome, but that process is a complete farce. Just like Ronaldo being allowed play, it’s complete arbitrary bs,” NFL analyst Sam Monson posted.
Balogun, who has scored three goals during this tournament run, picked up the controversial straight red card during the 64th minute of the USA’s 2-0 victory in the Round of 32 game against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ronaldo had been handed a straight red card during a European qualifier against the Republic of Ireland, which technically should have barred him from the start of the tournament. FIFA suspended the ban for a probationary year, allowing him to take the field for Portugal’s opening matches.
Bucky Brooks proposes World Cup-style overtime twist for the NFL
With the ongoing FIFA World Cup in North America delivering dramatic knockout-stage finishes, NFL analyst Bucky Brooks believes the league could borrow some of that excitement for its own overtime format.
“Watching these World Cup games come down to PKs creates all kinds of anxiety and exhilaration. I don’t know what the American Football equivalent would be, but the NFL should find a way to create an OT ending that produces the same kind of emotional reaction.” Brooks tweeted.
His comments come as multiple World Cup knockout matches have already been decided through penalty shootouts.
Edited by Nishant