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FIFA lifts red card suspension for U.S. forward ahead of round of 16 match
FIFA revoked the automatic suspension of a U.S. forward after a straight red card in the round of 32. The decision came hours before the team's round of 16 game against Belgium.
Jul 7, 2:18 PM·1m read2 sources
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FIFA overturned the automatic one-match suspension that followed a straight red card issued to a U.S. forward during the round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The player had been sent off on July 1 in San Francisco for a foul on a Bosnia and Herzegovina defender. Under standard FIFA rules, the red card carried an automatic ban for the next match.
Decision timeline and match context The revocation was announced hours before the United States faced Belgium in Seattle on July 6. Belgium won that round of 16 fixture 4-1. The U.S. team had already advanced as one of the final host nations still in the tournament after Canada and Mexico were eliminated.
Reactions and statements A sport journalist described the ruling as one that would "send shockwaves through football." One outlet reported that the U.S. president confirmed making a request for review of the suspension.
“Yes, I asked for a review [of the decision].”
Another outlet characterized the move as an own goal by FIFA and the United States. The forward remains the U.S. team's top scorer at the tournament with three goals.
