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US striker Balogun to play against Belgium as FIFA suspends red card
US striker Folarin Balogun will now appear in the match against Belgium in the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, after world football governing body FIFA suspended a red card incurred by the striker for a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic, during their Round of 32 encounter.
Folarin Balogun has scored three goals for co-host United States, making the 25-year-old star striker top scorer for the US in the ongoing tournament.
FIFA suspended the automatic one-match ban for a year, citing a rule which allows for punishments to be suspended.
“In line with article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code, 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 world football governing body said.
Thanking FIFA for the intervention, US president Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Meanwhile, the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it is “astonished” by FIFA’s decision and is “investigating all potential options” in response.
The RBFA stated that previous red cards issued at the World Cup have automatically resulted in a suspension, noting that FIFA’s decision was in “direct contradiction” of the competition regulations, which were “explicitly reaffirmed” by the governing body in May to all participating nations.
“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 Belgian football body added.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio was among those who had earlier requested a review of the decision, when asked by journalists about his country’s World Cup performance.
“It was great. They got screwed with that red card. There needs to be an appeal process for that. It’s probably too late for that,” Rubio said.
Balogun has been a key figure for the US at the World Cup, scoring twice for his side in a 4-1 win against Paraguay in their opening game.
He also opened the scoring against Bosnia before getting sent off in the 64th minute, after a tussle with Muharemovic.
Brazilian referee Raphael Claus issued the former Arsenal striker a red card after
watching a slow-motion replay of the incident by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
