Photo caption: United States President, Donald Trump
President Donald Trump on Sunday thanked football’s world governing body FIFA for suspending the red card issued to USA’s Folarin Balogun, paving the way for the striker to play in a last-16 World Cup showdown against Belgium.
Balogun was set to miss the match on Monday after being shown a straight red card in the last-32 game against Bosnia-Herzegovina for stepping on the foot of defender Tarik Muharemovic as the co-hosts won 2-0.
FIFA said Sunday the ban will be suspended for a year.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Balogun has been key to the USA’s progress in the tournament and his absence against Belgium would have been a blow to the team.
Photo caption: Balogun standing with Pulisic awaiting the ref verdict after a VAR check on an infraction | AFP
FIFA said in a statement: “In line with article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year.”
After the red card, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had called for the card to be rescinded.
