FIFA confirmed that the United States star striker Folarin Balogun is eligible to play on Monday against Belgium. The football governing body lifted his red card ban just a day before the World Cup 2026 round-of-16 match in Seattle. This stunning decision comes after Balogun’s controversial red card in the Americans’ 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The referee did not initially penalise Balogun for a challenge on Tarik Muharemović. But he was sent off in the 63rd minute after a video assistant referee (VAR) review. A red card normally means an automatic one-game suspension. FIFA has now changed this penalty to a probationary period.
Why FIFA Suspended the Balogun Red Card Ban
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee reached the conclusion based on Article 27 of its code. This particular rule gives the organization the ability to suspend a punishment in whole or in part. Therefore, Balogun is presently on probation for one year.
If the striker commits another such foul in this period, FIFA will immediately enforce the original ban. FIFA said that this measure allows the player to take part in the tournament while the sanction hangs over him. Interestingly, this is the first time that Article 27 has been used in a World Cup tournament.
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President Donald Trump and the Political Controversy
The decision has sparked a huge political stir over alleged White House involvement. President Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Wednesday to discuss the matter, multiple reports say. Trump reportedly asked the FIFA boss to review the unfairness of the suspension.
President Trump praised the move on social media following the announcement. He thanked FIFA for doing the right thing, overturning the ban. FIFA has not said whether the phone call played a role in their decision. However, many experts said the timing is highly unusual.
Belgium Furious Over “April Fools'” Decision
Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia was furious in a press conference on Sunday. When he heard the news, he thought it was April Fools’ Day. Garcia said FIFA was breaking its own rules to help the host country.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) also released a strongly worded statement. They said the ruling surprised them. The federation said the decision breaches the tournament’s regulations, which state that red cards lead to automatic bans. This means Belgium is now exploring legal options to challenge the decision.
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Thibaut Courtois Prepared for the Challenge
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is focused on the pitch, despite the controversy. “Balogun is a very fast and dangerous striker,” he admitted. But he insisted Belgium would be ready to face the full-strength US squad.
One of the breakout stars for the United States in this tournament has been Folarin Balogun. He’s the team’s leading scorer and has been a big part of their success. His presence in the lineup changes the way opponents defend the U.S. attack considerably.
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