NEW YORK — Canada head coach Jesse Marsch has launched a scathing critique of Donald Trump, claiming the U.S. President’s political intervention to overturn a World Cup red card for American forward Folarin Balogun exemplifies “why everyone around the world hates America.”
Speaking ahead of a clash between the North American rivals, the American-born manager did not hold back when reflecting on FIFA’s unprecedented decision during the tournament, which saw Balogun cleared to feature in the round of 16 against Belgium following high-level discussions between Trump and world soccer’s governing body.
Balogun, who had been the tournament’s standout performer for the United States with three goals, was dismissed during a 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32. In what appeared to mark the first instance since 1962 that a World Cup red card did not carry an automatic suspension, FIFA rescinded the ban. The extraordinary reversal drew triumphant praise from Trump but triggered widespread fury from Belgium and condemnation across international football circles.
In an interview with The Guardian, Marsch pulled no punches regarding American cultural exceptionalism and the fallout from the ruling.
“Well, this is a deep conversation. We, as Americans, have been inundated with propaganda since we were young. We’re the No. 1 country in the world, we deserve everything, we dominate everything, No. 1 in every aspect of life. This is what we’ve been told,” Marsch said.
“So, when things happen and we don’t feel like we’re in control of it… we feel like we deserve to be treated differently because we’re Americans. That is one of the things that infuriates the rest of the world about Americans. And Americans don’t know that if they don’t ever leave the country.
“So what I feel when the Balogun ruling happens is that would never happen in any other country in the world, and this is why everyone around the world hates America,” Marsch added. “That was proven to be so. The U.S. had had a good World Cup, was doing well. All that switched in one moment. But do I think that that’s about corruption and unfairness? The problem is, football is inundated with this kind of stuff.”
Despite the executive reprieve, Balogun made minimal impact in the subsequent match as the Americans suffered a chastening 4-1 defeat to Belgium on home soil, bringing their campaign to an abrupt end.
The 25-year-old forward has faced further turbulence since the tournament, having yet to feature for Ligue 1 side AS Monaco after a proposed summer switch to Premier League outfit Everton collapsed. He was notably omitted from Mauricio Pochettino’s latest U.S. squad due to an ongoing leg injury.
Pochettino, who conceded last week that he should have played a greater role in the decision to appeal the sending-off, struck a reflective tone over the controversy.
“At the time, I didn’t fully understand the criticism,” Pochettino admitted. “But now, with the benefit of time and looking back on it, the truth is that you have to learn from things, from mistakes. And I think sometimes the things that happen during a tournament have to stay there.
