Mauricio Pochettino on return from suspension of USMNT striker Folarin Balogun: 'We are not the bad guys here'

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino said Sunday he celebrated the decision to restore the eligibility of U.S. men's national team striker Folarin Balogun but pointed out this is not an unprecedented decision, and he does not want the USMNT to be perceived or portrayed as "the bad men" in this situation.

Pochettino conducted his press conference in advance of Monday's World Cup Round of 16 game against Belgium just hours after Balogun's mandatory one-game suspension for receiving a red card in the team's most recent game was, for lack of a better word, suspended. FIFA employed a relatively obscure item in its disciplinary code to instead impose a one-year probationary period for Balogun.

The Belgian FA announced it was "astonished" by Balogun's return. Belgian coach Rudi Garcia compared the decision to "April Fools".

Pochettino did not wish to identify other players who have had such penalties withdrawn or delayed but emphasized it's "important" to recognize this is not an isolated situation. It's well known Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo owed two games of a three-game suspension entering this World Cup but received the same probationary period as Balogun and thus has appeared in every game in this tournament.

In 1962, after Brazil superstar Garrincha was ejected from a semifinal victory over Chile, his suspension was removed so he could play in the final. Brazil won its second world title by defeating Czechoslovakia.

MORE: FIFA's Balogun decision is the right call done in the wrong way

"I don't understand how people can be surprised. This has happened in the past. It's not something extraordinary that's only happened for us," Pochettino said. "And we have seen many plays in this World Cup that were not punished, and I'm happy for this, because it would have been unfair.

"We were punished enough against Bosnia and Herzegovina to play with 10 men 30 minutes in a decision that was completely unfair. It's not only because I am the head coach of the national team and I need to defend my side. It's because I see 100 percent — or 99 percent, because always some people — we all agree that was an unfair red card.

"Maybe today, we are not here talking between us because if we concede a goal and we play 30 minutes more — we played 35 minutes with 10 men — and we go and play 30 minutes more, more than one hour, and we concede again and we lose the game, today we are not talking and no one is going to talk about this."

Pochettino said this development is good for the sport because it "opens the possibility to repair, a little bit, the bad decisions". Unlike major soccer leagues, the FIFA World Cup does not have a defined process for appealing red-card suspensions. This might convince the sport's governing body to consider such a mechanism.

Balogun was shown a red card in the 64th minute of the USMNT's victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup Round of 32. There initially was no call when defender Tarik Muharemovic collided with Balogun as the American attempted to field a pass up the sideline from teammate Antonee Robinson. The video assistant referee called for referee Raphael Claus to examine the play, and slow-motion replay indicated Balogun stepped on Muharemovic's right ankle and achilles.

Pochettino said he learned of the decision allowing Balogun to play before the team began its training session Sunday. He said he was unaware of any comments or involvement from U.S. President Donal Trump because he had not had the opportunity to examine social media. Pochettino said he did not participate in any effort to restore Balogun to active status but commended U.S. Soccer and chief executive officer J.T. Batson.

"That situation happened before," Pochettino said. "I think it's fair, the decision, not to punish more. I think it was enough, and now [we] focus on the game.

"I was focused on trying to prepare the team to face Belgium, working on different options and trying to play tomorrow with our best, in our best condition."

Pochettino seemed to be critical of how VAR was applied in Balogun's case, going back to when he was coaching at Tottenham Hotspur and the replay process first was being discussed, and how application of slow-motion video could impact one's judgment.

"The problem is not VAR. It's how we are going to use [it]," Pochettino said. "Who's going to drive the VAR? That's the problem. Who is going to drive the Ferrari or Mercedes?

"To lose a game in the World Cup is tough for a player. If a player we are going to face in an unfair way is suspended, and he cannot be able to play for your national team, it's really tough. Because after, you maybe need to wait four years."