Soccer-Pochettino regrets limited role in Balogun appeal, says controversy changed US energy

Balogun was sent off in the US's round-of-32 win over Bosnia but FIFA's disciplinary committee later suspended his one-match ban for a year, allowing the forward to play against Belgium. The decision triggered controversy after US President Donald Trump said he had intervened on behalf of the World Cup co-hosts by urging FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to review the case.

"Perhaps I regret not having been more involved when the Bosnia match ended, in the situation that followed and generated everything negative that happened after," Pochettino said in an interview for "Futbol de Primera" on Thursday. The US had moved through the group stage before beating Bosnia, raising hopes that the team could reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2002.

Pochettino added that he understood how a change to the punishment following a referee's decision to send a player off at a World Cup - one that allowed the player to feature in the next match - could alter the outcome of that match.