*This content was translated by AI.
The star striker of the U.S. men's national soccer team, who found himself at the center of international allegations of external pressure and controversy over special treatment due to an unprecedented suspension deferral during the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup, has finally spoken out. The individual confessed frankly that he had a strong intuition that enormous controversy would follow the moment judicial relief measures were announced.
According to a report by British media 'BBC' on the 15th (Korea time), Polarin Valojan (Monaco) said in an interview, "When I first heard the news that I could return to the field, I was honestly happy, but as I thought about it more calmly, I knew well that this decision would cause a huge ripple." He added, "I clearly felt that even within the U.S. national team ahead of the Round of 16 match against Belgium, my teammates were extremely anxious and showing nervous reactions."
The controversy began with the North American World Cup Round of 32 match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United States. Valojan received a red card and was sent off for a rough foul where he stepped on opponent defender Tarek Muharemovic's Achilles tendon. Under regulations, a direct red card carries a mandatory one-match suspension that cannot be appealed or contested.
However, just two days before kickoff for the Belgium match on the 5th, FIFA suddenly announced that its judicial body under Article 27 of the disciplinary code, which allows for the suspension of disciplinary measures, would defer Valojan's one-match ban for one year. This was the first time in World Cup history that a red card sanction issued during the tournament was overturned or deferred, allowing a player to participate in the next match.
This decision beyond common sense immediately spread into massive allegations of political external pressure. It was revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump and senior White House officials had directly called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of Valojan's suspension. Furthermore, concrete internal leaks emerged through reports by major British outlets such as 'The Times' stating that 17 of the 18th members of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee were excluded from the deliberation process, and the deferral decision was made unilaterally by Mohammad Al-Kamali, a committee chairman from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In response, UEFA and the Belgian Football Association expressed their outrage.
Valojan, who stood at the center of this incident, also recalled the moment he was notified of the final decision allowing him to play in the Belgium match. He said, "I heard the news from inside the Lee Dong-ha-deon (CEO) team bus." He added, "I naturally assumed the suspension would remain and had been excluded from tactical training, only serving as a morale-boosting training partner for my teammates. But when the news of permission to play was conveyed on the bus, the atmosphere inside became incredibly hot and chaotic, with all teammates screaming and shouting."
Despite going through twists and turns to enjoy history's first special treatment and making it onto the starting lineup for the Round of 16 match against Belgium, Valojan could not overcome the harsh criticism and psychological pressure that engulfed both inside and outside the stadium. While Valojan remained silent, the United States suffered a crushing 1-4 defeat to Belgium and was eliminated in vain.
Regarding this, Valojan said, "As the match day approached, I tried hard to block out external noise and focus solely on the game, but it was practically impossible." He added, "However, my teammates, who are like brothers to me, constantly reassured me, and we stayed united, looking only for victory until the final moment to avoid wavering."
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*This content was translated by AI.
