Folarin Balogun will be available to play for the United States in Monday’s FIFA World Cup round-of-16 match against Belgium after FIFA suspended the one-match ban he received following his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Gatekeepers News reports that the decision is a major boost for the co-hosts, with Balogun entering the knockout fixture as the team’s leading scorer with three goals in the tournament.
FIFA said its disciplinary committee invoked Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, allowing the enforcement of Balogun’s suspension to be delayed for a one-year probationary period. This means the striker can feature against Belgium, but if he commits a similar offence within the next year, the suspended ban will automatically take effect alongside any new disciplinary sanction.
Balogun was initially shown a red card during the United States’ 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina after a VAR review upgraded his challenge on Tarik Muharemovic from a yellow card to a dismissal. The decision sparked widespread debate, with many arguing the tackle did not warrant a straight red card.
The reversal has, however, drawn criticism from the Royal Belgian Football Association, which described FIFA’s decision as astonishing and said it is exploring all available legal options. Belgian officials argued that automatic red-card suspensions should remain in force under FIFA’s competition regulations and questioned the fairness of the disciplinary committee’s intervention.
The development gives the United States a significant attacking boost ahead of its knockout encounter with Belgium, with Balogun expected to lead the line as the Americans seek a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.
