FIFA’s surprise suspension lift fuels US boost, Belgium boss bristles

Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia will meet a United States side reinforced by striker Folarin Balogun, after FIFA suspended the red‑card suspension that would have ruled the 25‑year‑old out of the World Cup last‑16 tie. The decision guarantees Balogun’s immediate eligibility for Sunday’s knockout match. Balogun received a straight red card in the United States’ 2‑0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32, after a challenge on defender Tarik Muharemovic. Under FIFA’s disciplinary rules the dismissal triggered an automatic one‑match suspension. FIFA announced on Saturday that the suspension would be placed on hold for a one‑year probationary period, invoking Article 27 of the disciplinary code. The governing body offered no further explanation beyond citing the regulation that permits sanctions to be suspended. The ruling means Balogun is immediately eligible to feature against Belgium, with the ban only activating should he commit a similar offence during the probationary year. This conditional suspension effectively clears the striker for the upcoming knockout.

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The Royal Belgian Football Association called the move astonishing and said it is exploring every possible avenue in response. At his pre‑match press conference, Garcia quipped, “I didn’t know that in FIFA, July 5th is April Fools’ Day,” expressing his disbelief. Reports from AFP and Reuters claim US President Donald Trump personally contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the red card. Trump later welcomed the outcome on his Truth Social platform, thanking FIFA for “reversing a great injustice.”

FIFA lifts Balogun red card, Belgium federation left stunned

Trump’s relationship with Infantino has previously stirred controversy, including the decision to award Trump the FIFA Peace Prize, which prompted fifty European Parliament members to call for an ethics complaint against Infantino. Balogun’s availability is a major boost for Mauricio Pochettino’s United States, who will look to reach the quarter‑finals against a Belgian side that eliminated Senegal in the round of 32.