FIFA suspends Balogan suspension

In addition to a general World Cup open thread, I assume people will want to discuss this:

Folarin Balogun will be available to play the USMNT’s World Cup round-of-16 match against Belgium after his one-game red-card ban was suspended, FIFA has confirmed.

The 25-year-old striker received a straight red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday for a foul on defender Tarik Muharemovic, a sanction which is automatically accompanied by a one-game suspension under Article 10.5 of FIFA’s rules for the tournament.

Multiple FIFA officials told The Athletic after the game that a team is not able to appeal against a red card or the subsequent suspension.

However, Balogun is set to be available for the game at Lumen Field in Seattle on Monday as his ban has been suspended.

FIFA confirmed Balogun’s eligibility to play after The Athletic exclusively revealed the news earlier on Sunday afternoon.

A statement from the governing body and World Cup organizer read: “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.”

“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social after the news had broken.

I will not claim the knowledge to have strong feelings about this, but if I understand correctly:

• This is an unusual decision, in that there is no process for appealing a red card suspension, although FIFA does have the formal authority to suspend a suspension.
• This is not entirely unprecedented, as a suspension to Renaldo was reduced in 2025, admittedly for actions that did not occur in a World Cup qua World Cup game.
• On the substantive as opposed to procedural merits, the decision is OK, as the red card was not considered justified by most neutral observers (or any partisan observers.)
• There is still plenty of reason to wonder if FIFA did this not to right an injustice but to curry further favor with the real estate developer to whom they gave the Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Peace Excellence award.

Enjoy the games if you’re into that kind of thing.

…UPDATE: compelling evidence for the “pure corruption” theory:

calling to do corruption on behalf of somebody they don't believe should be a citizen of the United States

[image or embed]— Rodger Sherman (@rodger.bsky.social) 10:56 AM · Jul 5, 2026