Folarin Balogun must have known he was in for a wild ride when the news broke that his one-game World Cup ban had been waived by FIFA. The Monaco striker's initial elation at being reinstated quickly turned to trepidation, as the controversy surrounding his case began to simmer.
The 25-year-old American ace had been all set to take a seat on the sidelines for a crucial group stage match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, but a year-long suspension was subsequently handed down - allowing him to return to the fray and score vital goals in the USA's subsequent matches. The move sparked widespread outrage, with UEFA branding it "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable".
"I was happy to be back in the team, but then I started thinking about it, and I knew it was going to cause a lot of controversy," Balogun admitted in an interview. His squad-mates must have been feeling the heat too - "there were a few nerves among us, because it's something so unique". The news broke on the team bus, sending shockwaves through the squad: "it was screaming and shouting," Balogun recalled.
The outside world might have been abuzz with controversy, but Balogun insists his team remained focused. Despite being absent from early preparations for their last-16 showdown against Belgium, he claims they maintained full concentration - even in the face of a 4-1 defeat. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the tournament, England's Jarell Quansah was handed an automatic two-match ban for serious foul play - highlighting the stark contrast with Balogun's situation.