Unexpected decision. US national team leader to play against Belgium despite red card
Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
The US national team has received a crucial boost ahead of their World Cup round of 16 clash against Belgium. Striker Folarin Balogun will be eligible to play, despite being shown a straight red card in the previous match.
According to The Athletic, Balogun's suspension has been conditionally lifted, allowing the forward to take the field against Belgium.
The 25-year-old forward was sent off in the fixture against Bosnia and Herzegovina for a reckless foul on defender Tarik Muharemovic. Under World Cup regulations, such an infraction leads to an automatic one-match suspension.
After the match, FIFA officials stated that teams have no right to appeal a red card or the subsequent punishment. However, the disciplinary committee made a surprising decision, effectively overturning the sanction.
This decision is in line with Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which allows disciplinary bodies to fully or partially suspend the enforcement of a punishment. However, if a player commits a similar offense during the probation period, the deferred suspension is automatically activated, and an additional sanction may be imposed.
At the current World Cup, Balogun has been one of the standout performers for the US squad. The striker has already netted three goals in the tournament, scoring a brace in the opening match against Paraguay and finding the net again against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
