FIFA quietly suspended two staff members from the United States team ahead of the World Cup co-hosts' final tournament game against Belgium. The suspensions were listed in an official document published by FIFA, but no explanation has been provided.
US Staff Banned for Belgium Clash
In a last-16 game that had been embroiled in controversy ahead of kick-off, the United States were thumped 4-1, with a Charles De Ketelaere brace and goals from Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku sending Mauricio Pochettino's side out of the competition. However, two members of Pochettino's team were missing from the match, having been issued with a ban.
According to a disciplinary preview supplied by FIFA, both team manager Sam Zapatka and US Soccer Federation vice president of security Frank Pannell were suspended for the game in Seattle on Monday night. The official document lists both men as being 'suspended', with their names included alongside a list of players who went into Monday's fixtures carrying yellow cards.
No Official Explanation
No official explanation for the suspensions has been given by FIFA. However, ESPN reports that it relates to the United States' win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32, and involved the "mishandling of FIFA match protocols and people being in designated areas where they weren't allowed".
The US Soccer Federation has also not provided a reason for the discipline being imposed on Zapatka and Pannell, but has stated that it was not in relation to the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun's one-game suspension for a red card being lifted.
Balogun Controversy
Balogun was set to miss the clash with Belgium after being sent off in his side's win over Bosnia-Herzegovina for a poor tackle on defender Tarik Muharemovic. However, in an unprecedented and highly controversial move, FIFA moved to suspend his ban for a year, meaning he would be eligible to face the Belgians.
The decision immediately sparked a furious backlash, with a stunned Belgium describing it as "astonishing" and threatening legal action, while UEFA also issued a strongly-worded statement condemning the move.
US President Donald Trump later admitted he telephoned FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to ask for the ban to be reviewed, having also accused the referee who issued the red card to Balogun of being "very suspect".
Infantino Defends Independence
The admission led to further backlash, with Infantino then issuing a lengthy statement suggesting that he in fact had little say in the decision for Balogun's ban to be suspended.
“FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent," he wrote. "They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected."
“Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues.
“During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold."
“I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree," Infantino added. “What I always do, however, is respect those decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them. Whether we personally like a decision or not is irrelevant."
