SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 6 (San Francisco News Online) — FIFA said Folarin Balogun will be eligible for the United States’ next World Cup match against Belgium after its disciplinary committee suspended his one-match ban for a one-year probationary period.
The decision, announced Sunday, means the U.S. forward can play in Monday’s round of 16 match in Seattle after the red card he received against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
FIFA said the suspension was being held in reserve under Article 27 of its disciplinary code. The governing body warned that if Balogun commits another offense of similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the ban will be reimposed.
The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was “astonished” by FIFA’s ruling and said it viewed the move as contrary to the rules. U.S. Soccer said it accepted the decision and was “pleased” with it.
ABC News, USA Today and AFP reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, that Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked him to review Balogun’s suspension. Those reports said the timing of the call was not consistent across accounts.
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois called the decision “a bit of a surprise,” according to AFP’s report.
