Jesse Marsch criticizes the US self-image and FIFA's decision in the Balogun case

Jesse Marsch caused a stir with an interview. Marsch, an American and coach of the Canadian national soccer team, commented in the "Guardian" about the inconsequential red card that US striker Folarin Balogun saw at the World Cup - and then launched into a general criticism about his American homeland and its self-image.

»We Americans have been bombarded with propaganda since our childhood. We are number one in the world, we deserve everything, we dominate everything, we are number one in every area of ​​life," said Marsch. If something happens like a supposedly unjustified expulsion of an important player, "then we feel that we deserve to be treated differently because we are Americans."

March will play against the USA on Wednesday night

Attacker Balogun was a key player for his team at the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, scoring three goals before being shown a red card for a foul in the round of 16 against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Nevertheless, Balogun was allowed to play in the round of 16 against Belgium (1:4) - apparently after intervention by Donald Trump. The US President reported on a phone call with Fifa boss Gianni Infantino in which he called for the suspension after the red card to be revoked. Balogun's sentence was actually suspended.

Marsch, born in the US state of Wisconsin and a two-time US national team player, left the country and moved to Europe as a coach. He worked in Germany, Austria and England, including being head coach of RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga. He has been training Canada's footballers since 2024, with whom he will face the USA in a test match on Wednesday night. The game takes place in the US state of Minnesota.

"In no other country in the world" would there be such a withdrawal, said Marsch: "That's exactly why the whole world hates America."