Folarin Balogun has red card suspension overturned by FIFA

United States national team striker Folarin Balogun has had his one-game suspension for a red card in the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina cancelled, meaning he will be available to face Belgium in the round of 16 of the World Cup. This decision by FIFA represents a great relief for the US team and its coach, Mauricio Pochettino, who will now have his main goalscorer for the decisive clash in Seattle. Balogun's suspension was a hotly debated topic, especially due to the lack of a mechanism in FIFA regulations that would allow North American officials to appeal the decision, especially considering the use of VAR in the match. However, Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code allows the judicial body to suspend in whole or in part the application of a disciplinary measure.  The incident that resulted in the red card occurred when Balogun, in a controversial move, scratched defender Tarik Muharemovic's leg. After the United States' 2-0 victory over Bosnia, Pochettino stated that the red card was an exaggerated decision and that the foul was unintentional. This became a central point in the discussions, especially when it was considered that Lionel Messi did not receive a red card for a similar play during Argentina's victory against Algeria. The reaction to this cancellation of the suspension was not limited to the sporting environment. US President Donald Trump, who has a close relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, expressed his gratitude to the organization on his social media, calling the decision "fair" and a correction of "a great injustice". This turnaround in Balogun's situation is comparable to FIFA's recent decision to suspend the last two matches of the three-game ban imposed on Cristiano Ronaldo during the World Cup qualifying phase, allowing the Portuguese captain to also play from the start of the tournament. With Balogun back on the field, the USA's hopes increase considerably for the match against Belgium, where the team will seek to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup. --- ## Related Articles 1. [Rudi García criticizes FIFA's decision on Balogun](https://golazopro.com/es/news/rudi-garcia-critica-la-decision-de-la-fifa-sobre-balogun) 2. [Cristiano Ronaldo, Folarin Balogun und die Rücknahme der Roten Karte](https://mannschaftgoal.com/de/news/cristiano-ronaldo-folarin-balogun-und-die-rucknahme-der-roten-karte-ein-blick-au)

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