Solbakken slams FIFA for rescinding Balogun red card: 'It's a terrible decision'

Norway head coach Ståle Solbakken has condemned FIFA’s decision to overturn Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension, allowing the USA striker to play in the World Cup round of 16 clash against Belgium. Balogun was sent off in an earlier match, but an appeals panel replaced the ban with a probation period, sparking widespread controversy. Speaking after Norway’s 2-1 win over Brazil, Solbakken did not hold back: “This is a massive mistake from FIFA. VAR confirmed it was a red card. According to the rules, that means a one-match ban. The worst part is that even if the USA beat Belgium, this shadow will follow them. The Belgians will be furious. What happens next time someone gets a red card? Will every decision be appealed?” The Norwegian boss warned that the ruling sets a dangerous precedent: “It’s a bad, bad decision that hurts the World Cup and the United States themselves.” Balogun is a key figure for the U.S. side, and his availability for the Belgium game has ignited heated debate across the football world.