Balogun Ban Lifted for USA vs Belgium

Key takeaways

Fifa's disciplinary committee suspended Balogun's one-game ban under Article 27 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code, which permits such action where the offence is unrelated to match-fixing.
Balogun was originally sent off for violent conduct after VAR reviewed a collision in which he stepped on a Bosnia and Herzegovina defender's ankle, a moment his teammates and coaching staff maintained was unintentional.
The White House reportedly lobbied Fifa to lift the ban, and President Trump publicly thanked the governing body on his Truth Social platform for reversing what he called 'a great injustice'.
The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was 'astonished' by the decision and pointed out it appears to contradict Fifa statutes that set automatic one-game bans for red cards, adding it is investigating all potential options.
Balogun will remain under a one-year probationary period — if he commits a similar infringement in that time, the original suspension will be enforced.

Balogun Available for Belgium After Fifa Suspends Red Card Ban

Folarin Balogun will be available for the United States when they face Belgium in their World Cup 2026 last-16 tie, after Fifa announced it had suspended the striker’s one-game ban on Sunday in a move that has drawn fierce criticism from Belgium’s football association.

According to The Guardian, the White House lobbied Fifa directly to have the ban lifted, and President Donald Trump subsequently took to his Truth Social platform to thank football’s governing body for overturning what he described as

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Balogun Red Card Ban Lifted: White House Lobbying Leads to Stunning Fifa U-Turn Ahead of USA vs Belgium

Balogun Available for Belgium After Fifa Suspends Red Card Ban