USA v Belgium LIVE: Balogun starts in World Cup after Fifa rejects appeal following Trump intervention – UK Times

1’ – We’re underway in Seattle.

USA play in dark colours, Belgium light.

The anthems are underway. There is a military fly past. And there are fireworks.

It looks a lovely afternoon in Seattle.

“Outside is outside,” he says of not being distracted. “We’re focused. To have Balo is of course good news, to have him available is important for the team. He has three goals and is doing a fantastic job. It’s good news for us. It’s important for the team. I hope today he can show his quality.”

Jordanian official Adham Makhadmeh is in charge tonight. Good luck to him.

“I believe the most important is to have 11 players, a balanced composition,” the Red Devils coach says.

“We want speed, physical tactics, good defensively and offsensively. These 11 players were very logical to me given the elements I had.”

On the Balogun situation, he adds: “We have answered this question many times. We have 11 US players in front of us. The most important is our team as well as the final victory.”

Speaking on Newsnight, the former Everton and Manchester United midfielder wants his countrymen to make a gesture.

“In the end the player [Balogun] will play the game, it’s an important game for his country. He’s one of the best players, they play at home, they have a chance to maybe win the game too, because the game is 50-50, they are doing a good World Cup.

“I think Belgium have to protest but when the Fifa decides something, you can’t do anything.”

Some predictable scenes inside the stadium

Fifa has dismissed criticism from Uefa after being accused of “crossing a red line” in its handling of Folarin Balogun’s red card and suspending the one-game ban to enable the USA striker to play in the World Cup last 16 tie against Belgium.

The decision by FIFA Disciplinary Committee to alter the punishment for the USA forward after committing “serious foul play” to earn a red card against Bosnia in the last 32 has been widely criticised.

And US President Donald Trump admitted that he intervened and encouraged Fifa President Gianni Infantino to review the incident in a bit to reverse the suspension.

Another man who made eyebrow-raising decisions in charge of Belgium, Roberto Martinez has announced he is stepping aside after Portugal were defeated by Spain earlier.