President Donald Trump personally contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino and urged him to reconsider the suspension handed to U.S. men’s national team standout Folarin Balogun after a disputed red card in the Americans’ Round of 32 victory, according to the New York Times.
On Sunday, FIFA put the punishment on hold, clearing Balogun to take the field Monday in the United States’ World Cup Round of 16 clash with Belgium.
Balogun was sent off for a challenge on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic during the U.S. win. Under Article 10.5 of FIFA’s World Cup regulations, that red card would normally trigger an automatic suspension for the team’s next match.
In explaining the decision, FIFA pointed to Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, which says a “judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”
That same provision adds that when a sanction is suspended, the disciplinary body places the sanctioned individual under a probationary period lasting between one and four years.
After FIFA’s ruling became public, Trump celebrated the outcome in a post on Truth Social.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice,” wrote the president, who has built a notably close relationship with Infantino in the run-up to the World Cup.
In its statement, FIFA said Balogun’s suspension would be stayed for a one-year “pobationary 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,” 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.
