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FIFA has lifted the one-match suspension of U.S. men’s national team forward Folarin Balogun after President Donald Trump personally urged the organization’s president to review the controversial red card, allowing the Americans’ leading scorer to play against Belgium in Monday’s FIFA World Cup round-of-16 match.
The decision, announced Sunday, overturns the automatic suspension Balogun received after being shown a red card during the United States’ 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32. FIFA’s move drew immediate praise from Trump and sharp criticism from Belgian officials, who questioned the integrity of the tournament’s disciplinary process.
According to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss private conversations, Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino after Wednesday’s match and requested that the organization review the decision.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote in a social media statement after the suspension was rescinded.
Balogun, who leads the United States with three goals in the tournament, had been sent off after video review when Brazilian referee Raphael Claus ruled the striker stepped awkwardly on the ankle of Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemović. Claus initially did not issue a card before upgrading the play to a red following review.
FIFA said its disciplinary committee suspended the implementation of Balogun’s one-match ban under Article 27 of its disciplinary code, placing the striker on a one-year probationary period instead.
“The implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,” FIFA said in a statement. “If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”
The decision appeared unprecedented in modern World Cup history. Belgium’s soccer federation said it was “astonished” by the ruling and announced it was examining all possible legal options.
“In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options,” the Royal Belgian Football Association said.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia openly mocked FIFA’s action.
“I didn’t know that in the offices of FIFA the fifth of July was the first of April in Europe,” Garcia said through a translator. “The Belgian federation does not defend itself, it does not protect the national team. It defends football in general, it defends its integrity, its ethics.”
Garcia declined to speculate on whether Trump’s involvement influenced FIFA’s decision but suggested the ruling could undermine confidence in the tournament.
The U.S. Soccer Federation learned of the reversal Sunday morning through FIFA’s internal communications system while players were traveling to training near Seattle.
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino welcomed the decision, arguing Balogun had already paid a steep price by forcing the Americans to finish the Bosnia match with 10 players.
“We were punished enough against Bosnia-Herzegovina to play with 10 men for 30 minutes in a decision that was completely unfair,” Pochettino said.
Star midfielder Christian Pulisic also questioned the original red card.
“If you look at the foul, it was just zero intent at all,” Pulisic said. “I felt like there was much worse ones that went on this tournament.”
The reversal also drew criticism from elsewhere in international soccer. England manager Thomas Tuchel questioned whether similar appeals could now be made over yellow cards and other disciplinary decisions, while Norway coach Ståle Solbakken called the ruling “a bad, bad, bad decision that will hurt the World Cup.”
Balogun’s availability is a significant boost for the United States as it seeks its first World Cup quarterfinal appearance since 2002. The 25-year-old Monaco striker has scored three times in the tournament, including the go-ahead goal against Bosnia-Herzegovina, tying Landon Donovan for the second-most goals by an American in a single World Cup.
Born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents and raised in England, Balogun switched his international allegiance from England to the United States in 2023. He scored 13 goals for French club Monaco last season and has 12 goals in 30 appearances for the U.S. national team.
The Americans face Belgium on Monday with a place in the quarterfinals at stake after advancing past the group stage and defeating Bosnia-Herzegovina in the knockout round.
