United States striker Folarin Balogun will be available for Monday’s FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash against Belgium after the FIFA Disciplinary Committee suspended the automatic one-match ban following his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Balogun was sent off during the United States’ 2-0 Round of 32 victory, but FIFA ruled that the suspension will not take immediate effect, making him eligible for the knockout tie.
In a statement, FIFA said,
“In line with article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year.”
The governing body added that the suspension will be enforced if Balogun commits another offence of a similar nature during that period.
“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 is a major boost for the United States ahead of their meeting with Belgium, who reached the Round of 16 after a 3-2 extra-time comeback win over Senegal.
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the ruling in a social media post, writing;
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!
The United States will now have Balogun available as they bid for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.
