SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 6 (San Francisco News Online) — Folarin Balogun is eligible to play against Belgium after FIFA put his one-match red-card suspension on hold for a one-year probationary period, leaving the United States forward available for Monday’s World Cup round-of-16 match in Seattle.
FIFA said its disciplinary committee acted under Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which allows a match suspension to be suspended for one year. The governing body warned that if Balogun commits another infringement of similar nature and gravity during that period, the ban will be enforced.
Balogun was sent off in the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The ruling keeps him available for the next match against Belgium.
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 it.
ABC News, USA Today and AFP reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, that President Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked him to review Balogun’s red-card suspension. The timing of that call was reported differently across outlets.