SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 6 (San Francisco News Online) — FIFA on Sunday suspended Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban for one year, clearing the U.S. forward to play Belgium in Seattle and drawing an angry response from Belgian soccer officials.
FIFA said its disciplinary committee applied Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which allows a match suspension to be put on hold for a one-year probationary period. FIFA also warned that if Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during that time, the suspension will be revoked and the sanction enforced.
Balogun was sent off in the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the ruling makes him eligible for the U.S. team’s next World Cup match against Belgium on Monday.
Multiple reports, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, said President Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked that Balogun’s red card be reviewed. Neither Trump nor Infantino has publicly confirmed the call in the reports reviewed.
The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was “astonished” by FIFA’s decision and said it viewed the move as contrary to the rules. U.S. Soccer said it accepted the ruling and was “pleased” with FIFA’s disciplinary committee decision.
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said the ruling was “a bit of a surprise,” according to reporting from AFP.