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FIFA Lifts Balogun Red-Card Ban for U.S.-Belgium Match; Belgium May Appeal
The independent disciplinary committee lifted the automatic one-match suspension on Sunday. The move clears the United States forward to face Belgium in the round of 16.
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FIFA's independent disciplinary committee suspended the automatic one-match ban on United States forward Folarin Balogun on Sunday, allowing him to play in Monday's round-of-16 match against Belgium. The red card was issued to Balogun for a foul on Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic during the co-hosts' 2-0 round-of-32 victory.
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Leader asked for a review of the red card. U.S. Soccer submitted written arguments to FIFA stating that video review of the incident relied excessively on freeze-frames and slow-motion footage. The federation did not request a full overturn of the red card but sought any available mechanism to restore Balogun's eligibility.
FIFA's statutes contain no formal appeal process for red-card suspensions. The disciplinary committee used Article 27 of its code to suspend the ban. The same provision was applied earlier this year to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Commerce White House Task Force executive director Andrew Giuliani coordinated with lawyers and sought status updates from FIFA and the federation. Belgium coach Rudi Garcia compared the ruling to an April Fool's joke. U.S.
Players expressed surprise at the development. FIFA statutes require political neutrality, and past complaints have questioned Infantino's relationship with the Trump administration, including the creation of a FIFA Peace Prize awarded to the president at the December group-stage draw.
