SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 6 (San Francisco News Online) — FIFA said Sunday that Folarin Balogun can play for the United States against Belgium after suspending his one-match red-card ban for a year on probation, a ruling that drew astonishment from Belgian officials.
The disciplinary committee said the suspension was put on hold under Article 27 of FIFA’s disciplinary code, which allows a match ban to be suspended for one year. FIFA said the sanction would be enforced if Balogun commits another infringement of similar nature and gravity during that probationary period.
Balogun received the red card in the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The decision clears him for Monday’s World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle.
The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was “astonished” by the ruling and said it viewed the move as a direct contradiction of FIFA’s rules. U.S. Soccer said it accepted the decision and was “pleased” with it.
AFP and USA Today, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, reported that President Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked him to review Balogun’s suspension. The reports gave different timelines for the call.
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said the decision was “a bit of a surprise.”
