Folarin Balogun, the United States striker, will be eligible to play in the upcoming World Cup last-16 match against Belgium despite receiving a straight red card in the previous round against Bosnia, FIFA confirmed on Sunday.
Balogun, who netted his third goal of the tournament during the 2-0 victory over Bosnia, was sent off in the second half after a VAR review showed him stamping on the ankle of Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic. The dismissal forced the U.S. team to finish the match with ten men.
Following the incident, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino contested the red card decision, insisting it was unwarranted. FIFA’s disciplinary committee later announced a suspension of Balogun’s red card sanction for a probationary period of one year.
FIFA’s Suspended Sanction and Its Implications
The statement from FIFA clarified that the implementation of Balogun’s match suspension is on hold for the probation period. Should Balogun commit a similar offense within this timeframe, the suspension will be enforced immediately, alongside any additional penalties for the new infringement.
This discretionary measure allows FIFA’s judicial body to fully or partly suspend disciplinary sanctions, depending on the circumstances, emphasizing a cautious approach toward the striker’s future conduct.
In response to the ruling, U.S. Soccer expressed satisfaction with the decision, confirming Balogun’s eligibility for the next crucial fixture. “We are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow,” the organization stated.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, former U.S. President, publicly thanked FIFA for overturning what he described as “a great injustice” through a post on Truth Social.