United States Men's National Team striker Folarin Balogun will be eligible to play against Belgium in the Round of 16 after FIFA suspended a red card he received during a match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Balogun was shown a straight red card in the United States’ Round of 32 match, resulting in an initial one-game suspension. However, FIFA's disciplinary committee rescinded the suspension, citing an article within the FIFA code. Yahoo Sports reported this as a “huge piece of news” for the US team.
The decision allows Balogun to participate in the crucial game against Belgium. ESPN noted that the suspension was lifted, making him available for the round of 16 match. Fox News described the development as a “stunning twist,” while the New York Post similarly called it a “stunning development.” Yahoo Sports also characterized the reversal as an “extraordinary development.”
The Guardian reported that Balogun received the red card in the last-32 match and FIFA cited an article of the FIFA code in their decision to lift the suspension. Sporting News questioned whether any potential suspension would be served later in the World Cup if the US beats Belgium.
Interestingly, Sporting News also highlighted a precedent for this type of action by FIFA, noting that Cristiano Ronaldo had previously benefited from a similar situation.
The reversal of the red card sanction is for a probationary period of one year, according to Fox News.
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