BRUSSELS — FIFA’s decision to lift U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban — freeing him up to play against Belgium in Monday’s World Cup round-of-16 match on Monday this week — has not gone down well in the European nation.
Coverage from Belgian national broadcaster RTBF of the match between Brazil and Norway was distracted, with half-time chatter focusing on the FIFA ruling rather than the game that was underway.
After the closing whistle, the broadcaster showed that Balogun had been third choice for “darling of the match” — despite the fact that the U.S. team was more than 2,000 miles away from where the match in question was played. Balogun received 17 percent of the votes submitted by viewers.
Players on the MetLife Stadium pitch did claim the top two spots, though. Double goal scorer Erling Haaland placed second behind goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland, as Norway dumped five-time champions Brazil out of the competition.