(EXPLAINER) World Cup: Why Balogun can play Belgium despite receiving a straight red card

United States player Folarin Balogun will participate in the World Cup's Round of 16 match against Belgium, despite receiving a straight red card. FIFA overturned the automatic one-game suspension, a decision that has sparked controversy.

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Yesterday’s decision to suspend for a probationary period of a year the implementation of the one-match automatic suspension following the red card issued to the player Folarin Balogun crossed a red line.

Balogun was sent off in the Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina after a video review showed him stepping on a defender's foot. Under standard FIFA regulations, a straight red card mandates an immediate one-match ban. However, FIFA's disciplinary committee suspended Balogun's ban for one year, allowing him to play against Belgium.

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Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because is played everywhere with the same laws.

This ruling followed interventions from former US President Donald Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who publicly urged FIFA to review the punishment. Trump expressed his gratitude on social media, calling it a reversal of a "great injustice."

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Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!

European football's governing body, UEFA, strongly criticized FIFA's decision, stating it "crossed a red line." UEFA emphasized that football relies on clear rules for fair competition and expressed disbelief at the "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision." Belgium's coach, Rudi Garcia, also voiced his surprise, likening the situation to April Fool's Day.

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I didn’t know that at the FIFA World Cup, the 5th of July is now the 1st of April, and that it’s April Fool’s Day.