US coach Pochettino welcomes Balogun reprieve before Belgium match

SEATTLE: United States coach Mauricio Pochettino said on Sunday that he welcomed FIFA's decision to suspend striker Folarin Balogun's red card ban ahead of the team's World Cup last-16 match with Belgium on Monday in Seattle.

"I think everyone who really looked at the sport and trusts in ethics and integrity should celebrate that decision," Pochettino told reporters.

"We were punished enough against Bosnia and Herzegovina, playing with 10 men for 35 minutes after a decision that was completely unfair."

Balogun was sent off in the second half of Wednesday's round of 32 match with Bosnia for planting his boot into the ankle of Tarik Muharemovic. The 25-year-old's dismissal came after a video review.

FIFA announced on Sunday that the ban was being suspended but not rescinded. The unprecedented decision followed a call from U.S. President Donald Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. 

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia had reportedly said the ruling felt like "April Fool's Day".

Pochettino acknowledged Garcia's position although he insisted the decision was good for football.

He added that while he understood Garcia had to object, integrity and ethics were "global" and "more fair than that is impossible."

Pochettino said he had not been involved in the appeal process and only learned of the ruling shortly before the team's training session.

The Argentine added that political pressure should not influence sports rulings. 

"We cannot mix that," Pochettino said. 

Pochettino acknowledged that Balogun's availability was a boost but stressed that the U.S. team's strength was in the collective.

"The power is in the 26 players," he said. "Maybe tomorrow my decision is to put Balogun on the bench. Who knows?"

Balogun has been America's top scorer in