World Cup 2026t: FIFA Overturned US Folarin Balogun’s Red Card, Trump Hails Decision

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 star striker to play in a last-16 showdown against Belgium in the World Cup.

Recall Balogun was shown a straight red card following a VAR review in the last-32 game against Bosnia-Herzegovina for stepping on the foot of defender Tarik Muharemovic as the US won 2-0.

Under FIFA rules, a straight red card automatically triggers a one-game ban, which cannot be appealed by the player’s team.

But FIFA on Sunday said the ban will now be suspended for a year.

It said: “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.

“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.”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 in the game in Seattle.

He has netted three times for the US this World Cup, including his brace in the opener against Paraguay.

“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, shortly after FIFA announced its decision to suspend the red card decision. Nation