Overview
- FIFA announced Sunday that the Disciplinary Committee has suspended the automatic one‑match ban for Folarin Balogun, making him eligible for the U.S. Round of 16 match against Belgium.
- The committee said it acted under Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code to suspend implementation of the sanction and to place the measure on a one‑year probationary period.
- Balogun’s red card came after a VAR review in the U.S. Round of 32 game against Bosnia and Herzegovina when officials judged he had stepped on defender Tarik Muharemovic’s ankle.
- The decision restores a key attacker for the United States—who has multiple goals in the tournament—and reshapes the team’s lineup and tactics for the match in Seattle.
- FIFA has not fully explained whether the red card itself was formally rescinded, the governing body declined to provide further details, and the move echoes a prior Ronaldo precedent that raises fresh questions about VAR, referee decisions, and FIFA’s disciplinary transparency.