Trump Applauds FIFA’s Reversal on Balogun Suspension as America Readies for Showdown with Belgium in Round of 16

The United States Men’s National Team will march into Seattle at full strength for its biggest soccer match on home soil in a generation after a dramatic, late-hour decision on Sunday that has reverberated from the Pacific Northwest to the Oval Office.FIFA’s disciplinary committee lifted the one-game suspension of star U.S. striker Folarin Balogun. The sudden reversal clears the way for America’s most lethal offensive weapon to play against Belgium on Monday night in a highly anticipated Round-of-16 clash.The news drew high-profile praise across the country, including from President Trump, who took to social media to commend soccer’s governing body for the ruling.“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social.Mr. Balogun, the Americans’s leading scorer in the World Cup with three goals, was scheduled to sit out the crucial match at Seattle after receiving a red card in the United States’ 2-0 triumph over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 last Wednesday. After reviewing the matter, FIFA’s disciplinary committee elected to suspend the suspension.There was no indication whether Mr. Trump’s close relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino had anything to do with the matter, but the news was welcomed by a U.S. team looking to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.“We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow,” the team said in a statement. “Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans.”Mr. Balogun’s availability was put in jeopardy when he exited with about 10 minutes left in the second half of the game against Bosnia after being given a red card following a VAR review for stepping on the foot of Tarik Muharemovic. The punishment sparked a wave of controversy for being too severe.A formal appeal process does not exist, but U.S. Soccer had discussed the play, the ruling, and the severity of the suspension with FIFA hoping for a positive review of the disciplinary action.FIFA released a statement on Sunday citing Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, stating “the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year. 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 ultimate decision is similar to the ruling allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to start the World Cup for Portugal after picking up a red card against Ireland in a previous match. FIFA suspended Mr. Ronaldo’s red card, which allowed him not to miss the opening game.Mr. Balogun had called the red card he received from Brazilian referee Raphael Claus “unjust,” describing the contact on the play as “unavoidable” and not worthy of the highest penalty. “I think as you all saw, if there’s nowhere else to put your leg it’s going to be unavoidable,” he told reporters during a practice session. “I’ve seen many different opinions and takes. But for me personally, I think a yellow card would have been fair.”Mr. Balogun has been the engine behind the U.S. offense during the World Cup. He scored two goals in the opening match with Paraguay and another against Bosnia.Mr. Trump’s support of Mr. Balogun is noteworthy given the London-based forward is only eligible to be on the U.S. squad due to his birthright citizenship, something the Trump administration opposes.According to reports, Mr. Balogun’s mother, a British citizen, traveled to New York while pregnant in 2001 with the future World Cup star. Deemed too close to delivery to travel back to the U.K., she gave birth at New York City and remained there for two months before returning to England.A U.S. citizen by birthright, Mr. Balogun chose to play with the Americans over England where he grew up and Nigeria where he has citizenship through his parents. “My decision to represent the United States, it came together with my family,” Mr. Balogun told reporters prior to the start of the World Cup. “We decided it would be the right thing for me, to represent the country I was born in.”The Americans need Mr. Balogun to improve the team’s chances against Belgium, which blew out the United States 5-2 in a World Cup warmup at Atlanta in March. The last time the two teams met in the World Cup was 2014 when Belgium won, 2-1, despite U.S. goal-keeper Tim Howard making 14 saves.Belgium had to rally from a 2-0 deficit against Senegal to advance from the Round of 32.

Trump Applauds FIFA’s Reversal on Balogun Suspension as America Readies for Showdown with Belgium in Round of 16

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