Folarin Balogun is in the starting XI for the United States as they take on Belgium in the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup.
Balogun’s participation in Monday’s match in Seattle comes under intense scrutiny after FIFA decided Sunday to lift his mandatory one-game ban attached to a red card, which Balogun received in the co-host nation’s Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina last Wednesday.
The 25-year-old striker, who leads the U.S. in goals during the tournament, was shown a red after stepping on the foot of Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemović while attempting to play the ball. The initial assessment of a red card was widely disputed, but the punishment of a one-match ban the following game is automatic. In Balogun’s case, FIFA cited article 27 of its disciplinary code, which says a “judicial body” can “fully or partially suspended the implementation of a disciplinary measure,” indicating that Balogun could still receive punishment for the infraction at a future date if he commits a similar offence.
On Monday, U.S. president Donald Trump revealed he called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked for the ban to be overturned. Infantino said in a statement that Trump’s influence did not lead to FIFA’s decision to allow Balogun to play Monday.
“During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies,” Infantino said in a statement Monday on X. “That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.”
“It wasn’t a foul. That wasn’t even an infraction,” Trump told reporters Monday at the White House. “It’s one thing to penalize somebody for the game, but how do you penalize them for a game that hasn’t been played yet? It’s very unfair. You can’t do that. So, yes, I asked for a review by FIFA.”
U.S. coach Mauricio Ponchettino called the initial ruling against Balogun “completely unfair” and praised FIFA’s decision to allow Balogun to play against Belgium.
The Belgian soccer federation, on the other hand, said they were “astonished” by the ruling and launched an appeal, which was denied earlier on Monday.
The winner of Monday’s Round of 16 showdown will advance to the quarter-finals and will take on Spain, who eliminated Portugal earlier Monday 1-0 in Dallas.
