FIFA’s decision to overturn Folarin Balogun’s one-game suspension at the World Cup after an intervention from Donald Trump has incited fury, with the US star now free to play against Belgium in the round of 16.
Balogun was handed a red card during the host nation’s clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which initially ruled him out of the next match.
But in a stunning turn of events, the governing body have pushed back the striker’s suspension by a year, allowing him to play on Tuesday (AEST).
It has since been widely reported that White House officials made a direct call to FIFA asking boss Gianni Infantino to review Balogun’s sanction.
FIFA sources insisted that they made the decision of their own volition, under Article 27 of the disciplinary panel.
Trump took to Truth Social to praise the decision from Infantino.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!”
Balogun scored the opening goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina before receiving the red card for a bad challenge on Tarik Muharemovic.
The decision has unsurprisingly gone down like a lead balloon with USA’s rivals at the tournament, with Belgium’s Football Association condemning the move.
“The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) is astonished by FIFA’s decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play in the USA–Belgium match,” an official statement read.
“In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions, the RBFA is investigating all potential options.”
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia didn’t mince his words when asked about the backflip.
“I didn’t know the game was being played on April Fool’s Day rather than July 6,” he said on Monday morning (AEST).
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