Jesse Marsch has criticised the controversial decision to overturn Folarin Balogun’s suspension at the World Cup, telling The Athletic that the ruling “could not have happened in any other country in the world”.
Balogun was sent off during the United States’ match against Bosnia-Herzegovina but was later allowed to play against Belgium after his suspension was suspended.
The decision followed a call from United States president Donald Trump to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, during which Trump asked for the case to be reviewed.
Marsch, who is American, said the incident reflected a belief among people in the United States that the country should receive preferential treatment.
“As Americans, we are fed propaganda from a very young age,” Marsch said. “We are told that we are the best country in the world, that we deserve everything and that we are the best at everything.
“So when events happen that are outside our control, we feel that we should be treated differently simply because we are American.”
Marsch added: “That is one of the things that frustrates the rest of the world about Americans. That is why the whole world hates America.”
The Canada manager said the controversy had dramatically altered the mood surrounding the United States team.
“The United States had had a good World Cup and had played well,” he said. “Everything changed in an instant.”
The United States then lost 4-1 to Belgium and were eliminated from the competition.
Mauricio Pochettino, who had worked to ensure Balogun was available for the match at the time, has since admitted that mistakes were made.
“You have to have the humility to admit that you can be wrong,” said the United States manager. “And I think my mistake was not being present at that moment.”
Balogun’s suspension became one of the most disputed incidents of the tournament after the red card against Bosnia-Herzegovina was initially expected to rule him out of the Belgium game.
The eventual decision to make the suspension conditional meant he could feature, following the intervention involving Trump and Infantino. Marsch believes the episode damaged the perception of the United States, despite the team’s performances before the controversy.
His comments were made in an interview with The Athletic in which he questioned both the decision itself and the wider reaction to it. According to Marsch, the affair exposed the consequences of the belief that the United States should be treated differently from other countries.
