FIFA has suspended the red card shown to United States striker Folarin Balogun, a highly unusual move that clears him to play against Belgium in the round of 16 of the World Cup. The decision, which allows one of the team's most important attacking players to feature after it had appeared he would be sidelined, has become one of the most talked-about stories of the tournament and has drawn criticism as well as questions about how it came about.
Balogun has been the leading scorer for the United States at this World Cup, with three goals, including the opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32. It was in that same match that he was sent off, with the red card issued after a video review. The decision was controversial at the time, and many observers felt the punishment was harsh and should have been overturned, with former England forward Wayne Rooney among those who questioned whether it was a red card at all.
Rather than cancelling the card outright, FIFA suspended it for a year. Broadcasters reported that the governing body cited Article 27 of its disciplinary code to place his one-match suspension on a one-year probation, in effect turning the punishment into a warning. In practice that means Balogun avoids an immediate ban and is free to play against Belgium, but he would serve a suspension if he is sanctioned again within that period. FIFA did not share how it reached the decision.
Attention quickly turned to the role of United States President Donald Trump. Trump publicly thanked FIFA on social media after the move became known, and reports described a phone call between the president and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. According to that reporting, it was not clear whether the president had asked for the card to be removed or whether the exchange was a thank-you afterward. Other US figures were also reported to have been involved in the surrounding discussions, though at least one named individual publicly denied any role.
While the intervention is highly unusual, it is not entirely without precedent at this tournament. Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off in one of his country's final matches before the World Cup and initially received a three-match suspension, which would have kept him out of Portugal's opening games until FIFA intervened and reduced it to a single match. Commentators pointed to that case as an earlier example of a punishment being softened.
The move did not sit well with everyone. Belgium's football association said it was astonished by the outcome, claiming FIFA was acting in contradiction with its own rules, and vowed to look at its options in order to protect what it called the fundamental principles of fair play in the sport. Other teams were also reported to be contesting the decision, and analysts warned that changing a red card in this way could set a precedent and cause friction as the tournament continues.
For the United States, the immediate focus is the match itself. Balogun's teammates said they learned of his availability on the way to training and welcomed it as a boost, describing him as a key figure for the side. The United States, coached by Mauricio Pochettino, were due to face Belgium in Seattle, with kickoff scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern time. The two sides last met in a World Cup knockout stage in the 2014 round of 16, when Belgium prevailed 2-1, adding an extra edge to a rematch that had already carried high stakes even before the red card saga unfolded.