​U.S. Men’s National Team captain Tim Ream called the reversal of forward Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension a “boost of positivity” for the squad ahead of their World Cup Round of 16 clash with Belgium on Monday. In an interview that aired Monday on Good Morning America, Ream said Balogun is excited to contribute on the field rather than just cheer from the sidelines, noting his big smile and the fact he’s been beaming since the news broke.
Balogun became eligible for Monday’s game after receiving a red card in the July 1 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina for landing on an opponent’s ankle. The card led to a one-game ban, a ruling FIFA initially upheld as final and not subject to appeal, according to ABC News.
After the July 1 match, U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino told reporters the forward was disappointed by the call, insisting the contact wasn’t intentional, per ESPN. Following that game, President Donald Trump contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to discuss the red-card suspension, a source told ABC News.
On Sunday, FIFA announced that the match suspension would be suspended for a one-year probationary period. If Balogun commits another infringement of similar gravity during that probation, the suspension could be revoked and the original sanction enforced, with possible additional penalties for any new infringement. FIFA’s reversal drew criticism from several groups, including the European and Belgian football associations.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) expressed astonishment at FIFA’s decision to deem Balogun eligible for Monday’s match, as part of a statement released Sunday. “To safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and protect the fundamental principles of fair play,” the RBFA said, they are reviewing all potential options.
In a separate Monday follow-up, the RBFA said it was contesting FIFA’s decision to lift Balogun’s automatic suspension and reinstate him for Monday’s game. After learning of FIFA’s decision to lift the ban, the RBFA asked FIFA for a copy of the decision and an explanation to better understand the ruling.