US striker Balogun available for Belgium clash after FIFA suspends red card

United States striker Folarin Balogun will be available for the World Cup last-16 clash against Belgium, FIFA announced Sunday, after suspending the red card he received in the previous round. Balogun was sent off for a challenge on Bosnia's Tarik Muharemovic during the U.S. team's 2-0 victory, forcing them to play with 10 men for a significant portion of the match.

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

The decision came after a VAR review, which U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino argued was not a red card offense. FIFA's judicial body stated that the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year. If Balogun commits a similar offense during this period, the original suspension will be enforced.

U.S. President Donald Trump celebrated the decision, calling it "a great injustice" reversed. U.S. Soccer also expressed pleasure that Balogun is eligible to compete. Balogun's teammates reportedly learned the news via social media on their way to training, with forward Christian Pulisic describing it as "great news."

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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 Belgium team had not immediately commented on Balogun's availability. This situation draws parallels to past FIFA decisions, such as allowing Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo to play after suspending part of his ban, and Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo receiving a five-match ban for a serious tackle.

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We found out about it just coming over here. At first, you're like, 'Oh really, is this real?' And then 'Oh, this is great news'.