President Donald Trump reached out to FIFA president Gianni Infantino directly to ask him to review the suspension of U.S. men’s national team breakout star Folarin Balogun following a controversial red card in the United States’ Round of 32 win, the New York Times reports.
FIFA suspended the suspension on Sunday, allowing Balogun to play in the World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday.
Balogun had been given a red card for a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic during the United States’ victory, which meant, in line with Article 10.5 of FIFA’s rules for the World Cup, the striker would be suspended for the next match.
FIFA cited Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which states that the “judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”
It also states that by “suspending the implementation of the sanction, the judicial body subjects the person sanctioned to a probationary period of one to four years.”
Trump took to Truth Social to applaud FIFA’s decision after the news was announced.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice,” the president, who has developed an incredibly close relationship with Infantino leading up to the World Cup, wrote.
FIFA said in their statement that Balogun’s suspension was suspended for a “pobationary period” of a year.
“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,” FIFA said in its statement.
The decision to allow Balogun is a massive break for the United States, which is looking to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.
They face Belgium on Monday in Seattle and Balogun is the USMNT’s top scorer with three goals this tournament.
Balogun ability to play has enraged Belgium, which released a strong statement in which the country’s football federation said it was “astonished” by the ruling.
“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 in a statement.
