President Donald Trump on Sunday thanked FIFA for suspending Folarin Balogun's one-match ban, allowing the U.S. striker to play in the World Cup co-hosts' last-16 showdown against Belgium. The governing body ruled that the ban will be suspended for a year, a surprise move for which no specific explanation was offered.
Red card controversy
Balogun had been set to miss Monday's match after controversially being shown a straight red card following a VAR review in the last-32 game against Bosnia-Herzegovina. The incident occurred when Balogun stepped on the foot of defender Tarik Muharemovic as the U.S. won 2-0. Under FIFA rules, a straight red card automatically triggers a one-game ban, which cannot be appealed by the player's team.
FIFA said Sunday the ban will now be suspended for a year. The decision came after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had called for the card to be rescinded.
Trump's reaction
"Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. The president's gratitude underscored the political significance of the decision, as the U.S. co-hosts the World Cup.
Balogun has been key to the USA's progress in the tournament, netting three times this World Cup, including a brace in the opener against Paraguay. His absence against Belgium would have been a blow to the team in the game in Seattle.
Coach and player responses
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said Balogun should "never" have received a red card for the incident, insisting his player had simply been "fighting for the ball" and the contact was not intentional. Pochettino said at the time it "should be fair" to appeal the decision. But after being informed a FIFA spokesman had said the ban could not be appealed, the U.S. coach had appeared to accept he would have to consider "different options" to lead his team's attack against Belgium.
Balogun himself told reporters on Friday the red card ban was "something I have to just accept" and that he was focused on simply supporting his teammates from the stands. The decision to suspend the ban was taken by FIFA's disciplinary committee.
