FIFA suspends Balogun one-match ban for one year

FIFA announced Sunday that the automatic one-match suspension for United States forward Folarin Balogun has been suspended for a probationary period of one year under Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. The move clears the player to appear in Monday's round-of-16 World Cup match against Belgium in Seattle.

Four days earlier, FIFA had stated there would be no appeals process and that Balogun would serve the suspension after receiving a red card in the round-of-32 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina. The new announcement appeared only on FIFA's website without additional statements on its social media accounts.

Belgium and others The Royal Belgian Football Association said it is "astonished by FIFA's decision" and is "investigating all potential options," including possible legal recourse. A former Premier League referee told ESPN that real-time footage should have been considered during the original VAR review and that FIFA appears to have concluded either the red card or the review process was incorrect.