MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Two staff members of the United States men’s soccer team were suspended by FIFA from Monday’s round-of-16 game against Belgium.
FIFA did not explain why it imposed the discipline on team manager Sam Zapatka and U.S. Soccer Federation vice president of security Frank Pannell.
A source told ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle that the offense related to the round-of-32 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina and involved the mishandling of FIFA match protocols and people being in designated areas where they weren’t allowed. No physical altercation took place.
The U.S. Soccer Federation did not give a reason Tuesday other than to say it was not related to the successful effort to have forward Folarin Balogun’s one-game red card suspension lifted.
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Zapatka has been the team’s administrative manager since 2020 and has worked for the U.S. Soccer Federation since 2015.
The U.S. was eliminated from the World Cup with a 4-1 loss to Belgium.
