SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 6 (San Francisco News Online) — FIFA suspended Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban for a year on Sunday, clearing the U.S. forward to play Belgium in the World Cup round of 16 in Seattle.
FIFA said the disciplinary committee applied Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which allows a suspension to be put on hold during a one-year probationary period. The governing body said the ban would be enforced if Balogun commits another offense of similar nature and gravity during that time.
The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was “astonished” by the ruling and said it viewed the decision as contrary to FIFA’s rules. U.S. Soccer said it accepted the decision and was pleased with it.
Balogun’s red card came in the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The suspension had threatened to keep him out of the next match before FIFA’s ruling made him eligible to face Belgium on Monday.
Multiple outlets, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked that Balogun’s suspension be reviewed. Those reports also said the call came before FIFA announced its decision.
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois called Balogun’s clearance “a bit of a surprise,” according to reporting from AFP.
