SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 6 (San Francisco News Online) — FIFA’s disciplinary committee has suspended Folarin Balogun’s one-match red-card ban for one year, making the U.S. forward eligible for Monday’s World Cup round of 16 against Belgium in Seattle.
FIFA said the sanction was put on hold under Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which allows a match suspension to be suspended for a one-year probationary period. FIFA said that if Balogun commits another infringement of similar nature and gravity during that time, the ban would be revoked and enforced.
Balogun was sent off in the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The decision means he can now play in the knockout match against Belgium.
Multiple outlets, citing unnamed sources familiar with the conversation, reported that President Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino and asked him to review Balogun’s suspension. Neither Trump nor Infantino has publicly confirmed the reported call in the material reviewed for this report.
The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was “astonished” by FIFA’s decision and said it viewed the move as contrary to FIFA’s rules. Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois called the ruling “a bit of a surprise.”
U.S. Soccer said it accepted FIFA’s decision and was “pleased” with the disciplinary committee’s ruling.
