FIFA rescinds Balogun’s suspension after red card

FIFA made a discipline change for just the second time in its history, clearing the way for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun to play in Monday’s elimination game with Belgium at the World Cup.

- By KEVIN BAXTER

ROBERT GAUTHIER Los Angeles Times

FOLARIN BALOGUN, right, celebrates with U.S. teammate Weston McKennie after scoring June 12.

The rare move drew celebration from the U.S. players who felt Balogun’s red card was unjust and drew outrage from the Belgium team and others protective of the integrity of the laws of soccer.

FIFA, the global governing body for soccer and the organizer of the World Cup, announced Sunday morning that the one-game suspension given to Balogun for a dangerous challenge that could have injured an opponent in last week’s win over Bosnia-Herzegovina would be held in abeyance, making him eligible to play in what is arguably the team’s most important game in at least a generation.

It was the first time FIFA has rescinded a red-card suspension during a World Cup in 64 years.

The Belgium team immediately protested the decision, with the country’s soccer federation saying it was “astonished” by the ruling and was “investigating all potential options” to block it and “safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair in our sport.”

It was unclear what those options might be.

“I didn’t know the game was being played on April Fool’s Day rather than July 6,” Belgian coach Rudi Garcia said. “We’re not defending the national team or federation. We are defending football.”

President Trump celebrated the reversal on his social media platform.

“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” the president wrote.

Multiple media outlets, citing unnamed people familiar with the conversation, said Trump spoke personally with FIFA president Gianni Infantino last week and asked him to rescind the red card.