Balogun’s one-game ban was lifted by FIFA, allowing the US striker to play against Belgium in the Round of 16
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Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban was surprisingly lifted by FIFA on Sunday, allowing the striker to play in the United States’ World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday.
Balogun, the Americans’ leading scorer with three goals, received a red card for a foul on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemović in Wednesday’s 2-0 Round of 32 win.
The red card carries an automatic one-game suspension but players learned of Balogun’s discovery when social media posts began to appear during the 10-minute bus ride Sunday from the hotel to training at the University of Washington.
“I think most of us thought it was AI at first,” defenseman Chris Richards said.
Balogun’s red card and suspension from the Round of 16 was one of the most controversial decisions that resulted in the World Cup.
“If you look at the mistake, it was intentional,” said American star Christian Pulisic. “I felt that something very bad happened in this tournament.”
The US Soccer Federation learned of the decision in a message sent to it by FIFA on its portal at 10:31 am EDT.
“The implementation of the match suspension has been suspended for a one-year trial period,” announced FIFA. “If Folarin Balogun commits another violation of similar nature and gravity during the probation period, the suspension shall be revoked and the penalty imposed without prejudice to any additional penalty imposed for violation of the new law.”
Trump praises the decision
US President Donald Trump praised FIFA’s decision. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has made several attempts to get closer to Trump, even awarding him the FIFA Peace Prize at the World Cup.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing the right thing, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump said on social media.
Balogun’s three goals included one that gave the US the lead against Bosnia. He tied with Landon Donovan in 2010 for the second most goals by an American in the World Cup, behind only Bert Patenaude’s four in the inaugural tournament in 1930.
The US last reached the quarterfinals in 2002
The host US is looking to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002. The Americans lost in the Round of 16 to Ghana in 2010, Belgium in 2014 and the Netherlands in 2022. It failed to progress to the group stage in 2006 and did not qualify for the 2018 tournament.
The USSF said it would not make Balogun available for comment on Sunday, but Balogun posted on social media a photo of himself in front of American fans and covered with the music of Michael Jackson’s “Bad”.
On Friday, Balogun said he thought a yellow card instead of a red “would have been fine.”
FIFA said its decision was based on Article 27 of the disciplinary committee rules.
“The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of the disciplinary action. By suspending the implementation of the sentence, the judicial body places the person assigned a probationary period of one to four years,” said the law.
FIFA in November overturned the final two matches of Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo’s three-match ban for a red card against Ireland in a World Cup qualifier, allowing him to play in the World Cup opener.
Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi and Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo were handed one-match bans in April due to red cards in qualifying matches, allowing them to be available for the World Cup openers.
Brazil’s Garrincha was sent off in the semi-finals in 1962 but was allowed to play in the final against Chile after political pressure and scored twice in a 3-1 win.
