Folarin Balogun, the United States men's national team striker, will be eligible for the upcoming fixture against Belgium after FIFA overturned the red‑card suspension he received during the match against Bosnia‑Herzegovina.
The suspension stemmed from an incident in which Balogun stepped on a defender's ankle, prompting an initial dismissal. FIFA later suspended the implementation of the automatic ban under Article 27 of its disciplinary code, effectively pausing the sanction pending review.
Diplomatic Intervention
Former President Donald Trump reportedly placed a call to FIFA president Gianni Infantino to discuss Balogun's case. The conversation reportedly influenced the governing body's decision to lift the ban, marking a rare instance of political involvement in international football disciplinary matters.
Reactions from Belgium
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia described the reversal as "an April Fools' joke," while officials from the Royal Belgian Football Association questioned the fairness and consistency of FIFA's disciplinary code, especially regarding red‑card suspensions.
U.S. Soccer issued a statement welcoming the ruling, expressing satisfaction that Balogun will be able to compete and emphasizing the importance of a clear and consistent application of the rules.
The decision represents only the second known occasion on which FIFA has overturned a red‑card suspension, the first having involved Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo earlier in the tournament, further highlighting the significance of the governing body's rare intervention.