SEATTLE — The rumors and whispers started flying around the U.S. men’s national team’s bus on the way to training Sunday morning, and within 10 minutes, it was confirmed.
“I think everyone knows with AI and this and that, it can be a few question marks,” Chris Richards said.
Yes, this was so unexpected, so out of nowhere, that players on the team themselves wondered if it was AI.
It wasn’t.
Folarin Balogun’s one-game suspension for a red card — one that cannot be appealed according to FIFA’s own regulations — was suspended, allowing him to play in the USMNT’s Round of 16 match on Monday night against Belgium.
FIFA itself confirmed the news in a statement, citing Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, the same precedent it used to defer Cristiano Ronaldo’s suspension so the Portuguese legend wouldn’t miss games at this World Cup.
Section 1 of Article 27 states: “The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”
Section 2 states: “By suspending the implementation of the sanction, the judicial body subjects the person sanctioned to a probationary period of one to four years.”
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” President Trump said in a statement on Truth Social.
“We accept the decision of the disciplinary committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow,” U.S. Soccer said in a statement. “Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans.”
U.S. Soccer was engaged in the process behind the scenes, and Balogun himself was informed of the decision before the team boarded the bus to training.
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Once it arrived, everyone was smiling. The most important game the program has played in at least 24 years will feature its star striker.
“At first you’re like, ‘Oh, really? Is this real?’ ” Christian Pulisic said. “Then, ‘Oh, this is great news.’ Obviously we’re just happy to have him.”
Balogun himself, speaking two days prior, had said that though he disagreed with the red-card decision from Brazilian referee Raphael Claus, he accepted it.
Balogun was sent off after scraping his cleat across the leg and ankle of Bosnian defender Tarik Muhamerović while the two were dueling for the ball. There was no foul called on the field, but a red card was given following VAR review. The decision was highly controversial due to the use of slow motion, which made the foul look far worse than it did in real time, as well as the fact that Balogun didn’t have any intent; rather, he didn’t seem to have another place to put his foot.
“If you played the game, you would understand there’s scenarios that you simply can’t avoid and it has to be taken into context when it’s being reviewed,” Balogun said Friday. “I felt it wasn’t on this occasion. I think as you all saw, there’s nowhere else to put your leg. It’s gonna be unavoidable. … For me personally, I think a yellow card would have been fair.”
The decision to allow Balogun to play is massive, shocking and nearly unprecedented. It will also be seen by U.S. fans as justice done.
Belgium, no doubt, will have grounds to be upset after preparing all week to face a team without Balogun, only to find out at the 11th hour that the striker — who has been arguably the USMNT’s best player, and certainly its best goalscorer, during the World Cup — can in fact play.
The same day Balogun spoke, a U.S. Soccer spokesman confirmed the suspension would indeed be for one game. FIFA’s own rules prevent an appeal that would wipe the suspension off; thus the bizarre wording that the suspension itself has been suspended.
“We know how much impact he can be in the game,” Alex Freeman said. “Just finding out he’s available just gives us the extra confidence to know that we have him. Obviously it was a process, but for us, knowing he’s back, I think for us we’re happy to know we have a teammate who went through that the last couple days is back and could be able to play.”
