SouthernWorldwide.com – In a significant development for the USA’s World Cup campaign, star player Folarin Balogun has been cleared to play against Belgium in the upcoming Round of 16 match. This comes as a stunning twist after an initial uproar surrounding a red card he received during a previous game.
Balogun was shown a red card for stepping on the foot of Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic. The incident prompted a VAR review by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus to assess whether Balogun’s action constituted a severe foul.
Following the review, it was deemed that Balogun’s action warranted a sending off, and he was subsequently dismissed from the field.
However, as first reported by The Athletic, FIFA’s disciplinary code includes provisions that allow for the suspension of disciplinary measures. Specifically, the code states that “the judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”
The rule further elaborates that “If the person benefiting from a suspended sanction commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked by the judicial body and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”
FOX Sports has since confirmed that Balogun is indeed eligible to play. Reports suggest that the initial incident should not have escalated to a red card in the first place.
FIFA has officially confirmed that Balogun’s suspension has been suspended for a probationary period of one year.
“We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow,” a statement from U.S. Soccer read. “Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans.”
Balogun had previously scored against Bosnia and Herzegovina and spoke to reporters about the red card incident on Friday.
“First and foremost, it was totally unintentional, which I’m sure a lot of people know,” Balogun stated. “But, you know, I think the choice of the referee was, of course, his choice, but I don’t think it was the correct call.”
He continued, “I think a yellow card would have been fair due to it not being intentional. There’s not many places I can place my foot in such a scenario. But it’s happened, and it’s something that I have to accept and move forward from.”
Balogun also shared his emotional state following the incident. “There’s been lots of different emotions. I’ve been upset, I’ve been happy, it’s been surreal to be honest,” he admitted. “But for me it was just important to stay calm.”
He emphasized the importance of setting a good example for younger fans. “I never want to react out of anger and emotion. There’s still lots of people we’re inspiring. Little kids, boys and girls are watching. We have to show them the correct way to handle things even when you think it’s unjust, so I felt I did that.”
Balogun expressed gratitude for the support he and the team have received. “I’m happy with the support, not just I’m receiving but the team. I think we’re all looking forward to seeing what we can do against Belgium.”
U.S. Soccer initially faced a situation where appealing the referee’s decision was not an option. According to Article 9.6 of the 2026 World Cup regulations, “No protests may be made about the referee’s decisions regarding facts connected with play. Such decisions are final and not subject to appeal, unless otherwise stipulated in the FIFA Disciplinary Code.”
Furthermore, Article 10.5 states that “If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card (second caution), they will automatically be suspended from their team’s subsequent match.” This rule would have typically meant Balogun missing the Belgium game.
