FIFA Suspends Folarin Balogun Red-Card Ban, Making Him Eligible vs Belgium

Folarin Balogun will be available for the USMNT’s World Cup round-of-16 match against Belgium after FIFA suspended his one-game red-card ban, a decision FIFA said was made in line with article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code.

“President Donald Trump called the head of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, and asked him to review the red card suspension of U”

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FIFA said the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year, and if Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during that period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced.

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The red card came after Balogun received a straight red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday for a foul on defender Tarik Muharemovic, a sanction automatically accompanied by a one-game suspension under Article 10.5 of FIFA’s rules for the tournament.

The U.S. team learned of the change via social media on the team bus to training at University of Washington on Sunday, and U.S. Soccer said it was pleased Balogun was eligible to compete tomorrow.

The match is set for Lumen Field in Seattle on Monday, as FIFA confirmed Balogun’s eligibility to play after The Athletic revealed the news earlier on Sunday afternoon.

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, saying, "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!" after the suspension was put on hold for a probationary period of one year.

The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was "astonished" by the decision and said it is exploring "all potential options," arguing the ruling contradicts competition regulations about red cards automatically resulting in a suspension for the team’s next match.

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Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville said, "It absolutely stinks, let's be really clear," adding that there should be a review process in place to overturn a red card.

Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia said, "I didn't know that in the offices of FIFA the 5th of July was the 1st of April in Europe," and said the federation does not defend itself but defends football’s integrity and ethics.

NBC News reported that Belgium’s soccer federation blasted the ruling as “astonished,” while U.S. Soccer said it was “pleased” Balogun would be available for the team’s next match in Seattle.

With Balogun eligible for the round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday, the U.S. no longer needs to find an answer to its biggest lineup question heading into the knockout stage.

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U.S. Soccer said its “full attention is focused on the round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle,” and the decision gave the team a boost after players found out on the bus and then received confirmation during training at the University of Washington.

Balogun, who is 25, said he thought a yellow card would have been fair, telling reporters at a USA training session, "There's nowhere else to put your leg. It’s going to be unavoidable," and he added, "But, for me personally, I think a yellow card would have been fair."

The decision also leaves the red card on Balogun’s record while the mandatory match suspension is put on hold, meaning FIFA said the suspension would be revoked if he commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period.

The Guardian reported that Donald Trump lobbied FIFA to lift Balogun’s one-game ban, and it said the decision gives the US a huge boost as they attempt to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2002.