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Pochettino Says USMNT Were 'Punished Enough' After Balogun Red Card Suspension Lifted

50 minutes ago·1 min

United States manager Mauricio Pochettino has welcomed FIFA's decision to overturn the suspension handed to forward Folarin Balogun, insisting that his side had already been adequately penalised during the match itself.

Balogun was shown a red card during the USMNT's encounter with Bosnia-Herzegovina, forcing the team to compete with ten men for 35 minutes. Pochettino argued that enduring that numerical disadvantage amounted to punishment enough, and that extending the ban beyond the match would have been excessive.

FIFA ultimately agreed, lifting the suspension and clearing Balogun to feature in the USMNT's next fixture. For Pochettino, the governing body made the right call — the team had already paid the price on the pitch.

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