The World Cup was plunged into uproar on Sunday after FIFA suspended a red card given to United States star Folarin Balogun ahead of the host nation's clash with Belgium, in a bombshell move welcomed by President Donald Trump but slammed as "astonishing" by Belgian officials.
The extraordinary FIFA ruling means that Balogun is now free to play for the World Cup co-hosts on Monday when they face Belgium in Seattle with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
The forward, who has scored three goals at this World Cup, had been set to miss the match after being sent off for inadvertently treading on Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic in the USA's 2-0 victory in the last 32 on Wednesday.
Under FIFA rules, a straight red card automatically triggers a one-game ban, which cannot be appealed by the player's team.
United States Soccer Federation officials had not attempted to challenge the sanction, and Balogun himself had accepted the punishment.
The extraordinary FIFA ruling means that Balogun is now free to play for the World Cup co-hosts on Monday when they face Belgium in Seattle with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
The forward, who has scored three goals at this World Cup, had been set to miss the match after being sent off for inadvertently treading on Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic in the USA's 2-0 victory in the last 32 on Wednesday.
Under FIFA rules, a straight red card automatically triggers a one-game ban, which cannot be appealed by the player's team.
United States Soccer Federation officials had not attempted to challenge the sanction, and Balogun himself had accepted the punishment.
4 months ago
