Shocked Belgium have vowed to “protect football” after FIFA’s controversial decision to allow Folarin Balogun to play in the crucial last 16 match.
The World Soccer Federation-FIFA has suspended the one-match ban imposed on American striker Folarin Balogun, asking him to play in the World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium after President Donald Trump reportedly asked the head of the council to review the case.
Balogun was sent off in the 64th minute of the US team’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on Wednesday. Under World Cup rules, the red card carried an automatic suspension, which would have ruled the New York-born forward out of Monday’s elimination game at Seattle Stadium.
However, FIFA announced on Sunday that the implementation of automatic suspensions has been suspended for a one-year probationary period under Article 27 of its disciplinary code. The decision means Balogun, who has scored three goals in the tournament, will be available as the United States look to play in the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2002.
The New York Times reported that Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Wednesday and asked him to review Balogun’s suspension, citing people familiar with the talks. The White House has not publicly confirmed the call, but referred reporters to Trump’s celebratory post on Community Facts.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing the right thing, and righting a great injustice!” Trump wrote on Sunday.
The decision has sparked outrage in Belgium, which the football federation said was the case “I wonder” by FIFA’s decision and was investigating “All possible options” before the match. Belgium coach Rudi Garcia mocked the change as a bad April Fools’ joke.
“We are not defending the national team or the federation, we are defending football,” Garcia said.
Inversions are very common, although not without recent precedent. FIFA made a similar move before the tournament when it allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to play for Portugal, despite a red card ban from a qualifying match against Ireland. Ronaldo was banned for three matches, but two matches were suspended, allowing him to participate in the World Cup.
Before that, the last comparable World Cup intervention came in 1962, when Brazil legend Garrincha was allowed to play in the final after being sent off in the semi-finals – eight years before FIFA introduced the modern red card system at the 1970 World Cup.
FIFA’s decision comes amid an investigation into Infantino’s close relationship with Trump. The governing body previously created and awarded the US president its own Peace Prize following his public but unsuccessful campaign to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
The United States is participating in the 2026 World Cup along with Canada and Mexico. The tournament will start from June 11 to July 19 and is being organized in 16 cities, including 11 in the United States. The final is scheduled to be played on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The U.S. and Belgium last met in the World Cup in the round of 16 in 2014, when Belgium won 2-1 after extra time despite U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard’s record 16 saves.
