Balogun available for Belgium clash as FIFA lifts USA striker’s one-game suspension

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usa/fuitL4CF/"]United States[/a] striker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/balgun-folarin/rVZLmUsU/"]Folarin Balogun[/a] will be available ⁠for their World Cup last-16 clash with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a] despite being sent off for a straight red card in their win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bosnia-herzegovina/fqe7WYTr/"]‌Bosnia[/a] in the previous round, FIFA said on Sunday.[/p][p]Balogun scored his third goal ‌of the World Cup in the 2-0 win but was ‌shown a red card in the second half for planting his boot ‌into the ankle of Bosnia's Tarik Muharemovic, leaving the U.S. ‌to navigate the remainder of the game a man down.[/p][p]The 25-year-old was sent off after a VAR review, with U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino saying it ‌was never a red card.[/p][p][b]" ... the implementation ⁠of the match suspension is ‌suspended for a probationary period of one year," [/b]FIFA said in a statement.[/p][p][b]"If ​Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall ​be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement."[/b][/p][p]The judicial body has the discretion ⁠to fully or partially ​suspend the implementation of a disciplinary sanction.[/p][embed guid="17f3481e-9a24-420b-a4d0-fc9677448450" url="https://x.com/JacobsBen/status/2073823947682980076" social-type="twitter" /][h2]'A great injustice'[/h2][p][b]"Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice,"[/b] US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social. US Soccer accepted the decision.[/p][p][b]"(We) ‌are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow,"[/b] it said in a statement. Balogun's teammates said they only found out via social media on their way to training.[/p][p][b]"We found out about it just coming over here,"[/b] American forward Christian Pulisic told reporters. [b]"At first, you're like, 'Oh really, is this real?' And then 'Oh, this is great news'."[/b][/p][p]The Belgium team did not immediately comment on Balogun being available for the game in Seattle on Monday.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portugal/WvJrjFVN/"]Portugal[/a] captain Cristiano ‌Ronaldo was able to play his side's opening World Cup matches ​after FIFA suspended the final two games of a three-match ‌ban last year when he was sent off in their penultimate qualifying match against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ireland/Gfyqk1aG/"]Ireland[/a].[/p][p]Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo was handed a five-match ban after receiving a red card for a tackle that seriously injured Canada midfielder Ismael Kone during a ⁠group match at the tournament.[/p]