SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 6 (San Francisco News Online) — FIFA put Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban on a yearlong probation Sunday, making the U.S. forward eligible for Monday’s World Cup round of 16 against Belgium in Seattle and drawing a sharp protest from Belgian officials.
The governing body said its disciplinary committee applied Article 27 of FIFA’s code, which allows a match suspension to be suspended for a one-year probationary period. FIFA said the ban would be enforced if Balogun committed another offense of similar nature and gravity during that time.
The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was “astonished” by the ruling and called it contrary to FIFA’s rules. U.S. Soccer said it accepted the decision and was pleased with it.
Multiple reports, citing unnamed sources familiar with the conversation, said President Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked him to review Balogun’s red card suspension. Those reports gave different dates for the call.
Balogun’s red card came in the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The probationary ruling leaves him available for the match against Belgium.
