FIFA suspends Balogun red card for USA-Belgium World Cup clash after White House call

FIFA has intervened to make Folarin Balogun available for the United States in their World Cup last-16 tie against Belgium, suspending the striker’s one-match ban after a direct appeal from the White House to president Gianni Infantino. A person familiar with the call, speaking anonymously to The Associated Press, confirmed the White House had contacted FIFA to ask for a review of the red card Balogun received in the previous round. The Monaco forward was sent off for a studs-up challenge on Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemovic after scoring the opener in USA’s 1-0 victory. He was handed a mandatory suspension for Tuesday’s knockout game in Seattle. FIFA announced on Sunday that it had suspended the ban for a probationary period of one year, citing Article 27 of its disciplinary code. The same rule was used last year to allow Cristiano Ronaldo to play in this World Cup after his three-match ban for elbowing an opponent was partially suspended. The decision provoked an angry response from the Belgian camp. The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was “astonished” and would investigate all available options, including a possible appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Head coach Rudi Garcia did not hold back: “I didn’t know that in the offices of FIFA July 5 was April 1 in Europe. The Belgian federation does not defend itself – it defends football, its integrity, its ethics. This is the first time in World Cup history that such a decision has been taken.” President Donald Trump, who received the FIFA Peace Prize from Infantino last year, celebrated the move on social media: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice!” Not everyone agreed. media pundit Gary Neville called the situation “absolutely stinking” and questioned the lack of a transparent review process. “If there’s no process to overturn it and then FIFA, from nowhere, decide to let a player play … I’d be absolutely raging if I was Belgium.” USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino defended the outcome, insisting his team are not the villains. “If anyone was harmed, it was the United States. Playing 30 or 35 minutes a man down in a World Cup knockout match – it’s not as if we’re benefiting. We aren’t victims, but we aren’t the villains either.” USA players learned of Balogun’s availability via social media posts during the bus ride from their hotel to training at the University of Washington’s Hubroadcaster Soccer Stadium on Sunday morning. Before the round of 16 kicked off, Balogun’s was the only red card suspension among the 12 issued at this tournament that had been overturned.