Fox’s Alexi Lalas and Stu Holden on Sunday night got into a strong discussion about FIFA reversing the red card against USMNT F Folarin Balogun and allowing him to play in Monday’s game against Belgium. Appearing live on Fox’s set at Seattle Stadium, where tonight’s game is taking place, the two talked about a possible negative sentiment arising for the U.S. team after the ruling.
Lalas: “You don’t think that there is a sentiment out there, now that this has happened, that this U.S. team is being given special treatment?”
Holden: “Of course, I’m sure there are some people. … I’m always for, at least in the spirit of the game and they way it is done, if there is an injustice like that, I would much rather have the stars on the field and the best players available and not missing out in a situation where I think we pretty clearly feel that was not a red card.”
Lalas: “I think there are a lot of people that would clearly feel that there are other red cards and other decisions that they would have loved to have that decision maybe reversed of overturned.”
Holden: “A lot have been overturned in the past.”
After a brief diversion, Holden asked Lalas: “You want us to be the villain or you want us to be the underdog?”
Lalas: “Tomorrow, it’s U.S. against the world, and that’s OK. Bring it on.”
Fox’ Rob Stone: “It won’t be that case in this stadium.”
Lalas: “Not in this stadium and not in this country. But for a lot of people that will be watching, there will be people who tune in to hate watch, and specifically because of what happened” (“FIFA World Cup Today,” Fox, 7/5).
