FIFA Suspends Two U.S. Soccer Officials Ahead of Belgium Match
FIFA reportedly suspended U.S. Soccer team manager Sam Zapatka and security vice-president Frank Pannell before the United States lost 4-1 to Belgium, though the reasons remain unclear.
FIFA has suspended two U.S. Soccer officials, team manager Sam Zapatka and vice president of security Frank Pannell, prior to the United States men's national team’s match against Belgium, according to Front Office Sports. The U.S. Soccer federation directed inquiries to FIFA, which declined to comment, but a federation spokesperson confirmed the suspensions.
The timing follows recent controversy involving forward Folarin Balogun, who received a red card in a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, had his one-game ban overturned, and then played against Belgium. FIFA’s disciplinary committee later issued a 13-point statement imposing fines on Balogun and U.S. Soccer for a celebration after the Bosnia match, but it has not linked those actions to the officials’ suspensions.
"We can confirm that the suspensions have been enacted," a U.S. Soccer spokesperson said, adding that further details would be provided by FIFA.
The United States lost the Belgium game 4-1. Zapatka, with 11 years at U.S. Soccer, and Pannell, a former Secret Service and CIA operative turned private security executive, are the only team officials reported to have been suspended during the 2026 World Cup qualifying period.