
United States forward Folarin Balogun. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard) AP Photo/Eakin Howard
In one of the most unusual reversals in the history of the World Cup tournament, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee announced Sunday that it would suspend Balogun’s one-game red card ban for a probationary period of one year and allow him to play Monday Night against Belgium. Balogun was shown a red card on Wednesday during the U.S.’s 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina. The card came after replay showed him inadvertently stepping on the ankle of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemović.
“In line with Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,” FIFA said in a statement. “If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”
According to the Associated Press, President Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Wednesday and asked him to review Balogun’s suspension. FIFA has not said whether the call played any role in the decision, but after the decision, President Trump wrote in Social Truth, “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!”
Belgium’s soccer federation criticizes the ruling, saying it was “astonished” by FIFA’s decision and arguing that it contradicts both FIFA’s disciplinary code and the tournament’s competition regulations, which state that a red card “automatically results in a suspension for the team’s next match.”
The U.S. Men’s Soccer team welcomed the decision to lift the ban on Folarin Balogun, saying it was “pleased” that Balogun would be available for the team’s next match.
Folarin has led the team with 3 goals in the World Cup tournament, including Wednesday night’s victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina. His presence will be a huge help against a team that’s one of the favorites to win the World Cup.
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