FIFA lifts Balogun's suspension | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

FIFA lifts Balogun’s suspension, allowing Folarin Balogun to play the World Cup round of 16 against Belgium after a red card was overturned. The U.S. forward had been given a red card during the 2-0 round of 32 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday for an awkward step on Tarik Muharemovic’s right ankle, which normally triggers an automatic one-match ban. FIFA announced Sunday that the suspension would not apply for the round of 16, described as an extraordinary decision and reportedly the first since 1962 that a World Cup red card did not lead to a suspension. U.S. President Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino after the match, according to an anonymous source. Belgium’s federation said it was “astonished,” and coach Rudi Garcia criticized the move.