By Desire Emmanuel
USA striker, Folarin Balogun, will play in his team’s last-16 game against Belgium on Monday after FIFA announced it has suspended the red card and accompanying one-game ban he received against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The decision followed the protest by President Donald Trump shortly after the red card was issued, just as he confirmed in his Truth Social post on Sunday that the red card had been withdrawn.
He wrote: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice.”
“We accept the decision of the disciplinary committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow,” US Soccer also said in a statement.
“Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans.”
The decision gives the US a huge boost as they attempt to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2002.
Balogun has been a constant threat for the US so far this tournament, and has scored three goals in three starts. Without him, US coach Mauricio Pochettino was scrambling to come up with other options in attack.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee said it made the decision in line with Article 27 of the Disciplinary Code, which allows it to suspend red cards so long as the discipline is not realted to match-fixing.
Balogun was sent off for a seemingly innocuous collision with a Bosnia and Herzegovina defender in a last-32 game earlier last week.
No foul was initially called, but the video assistant referee (VAR) recommended a review after seeing that Balogun had stepped on the defender’s ankle. Upon reviewing the incident, the referee issued Balogun a straight red for violent conduct.
The decision shocked commentators and the US players and coaching staff, all of whom said the move was unintentional.
