SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 6 (San Francisco News Online) — FIFA suspended Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban for a year on Sunday, clearing the U.S. forward to play Belgium in Seattle and prompting the Belgian football federation to say it was “astonished” by the ruling.
In a statement quoted by multiple news organizations, FIFA said the implementation of the match suspension was being put on hold for a one-year probationary period under Article 27 of its disciplinary code. FIFA said that if Balogun commits another infringement of similar nature and gravity during that period, the suspension will be revoked and the sanction enforced.
The Royal Belgian Football Association said the move ran contrary to FIFA’s rules. U.S. Soccer said it accepted the decision and was “pleased” with it.
Balogun was sent off in a U.S. match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a 2-0 win for the Americans. The disciplinary decision makes him eligible for the next match against Belgium on Monday.
According to people familiar with the matter, President Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked him to review Balogun’s red card suspension. The timing of that call has been reported differently in separate accounts.
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said the decision was “a bit of a surprise.”
