US World Cup star Folarin Balogun's red card ban suspended ahead of match against Belgium
U.S. soccer star Folarin Balogun will be eligible to play in the USMNT's World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday after the striker's controversial one-game red card suspension was put on hold by FIFA.
FIFA said on Sunday that "the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year."
Balogun was given the red card during the second half of the U.S. match against Bosnia-Herzegovina last week after clashing with an opposing player's foot. The penalty led to Balogun being ejected from the game and automatically landed him a one-game suspension. FIFA told ABC News at the time that the call by the referee was final and not able to be overturned or appealed.
The football governing body added Sunday that if 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."
"The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) is astonished by FIFA's decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play" in Monday's match, the RBFA said in a statement Sunday, in part.
The statement further said that the "FIFA Disciplinary Code clearly provides that a red card (sending-off) automatically results in a suspension for the team's next match, as has been the case for all previous red cards issued during this FIFA World Cup."
"In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options," the statement concluded.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino told reporters after last week's match, which the U.S. won 2-0, that Balogun was "disappointed" by the call and that the clash was not intentional, according to ESPN.
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U.S. Soccer said in a statement Sunday that it accepted and was "pleased" with the decision of FIFA's disciplinary committee to suspend the one-game ban.
"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 said.
President Donald Trump posted on his social media account, "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!"
The U.S. and Belgium will face off Monday at 8 p.m. ET from Seattle Stadium.
-ABC News' Christiane Cordero and Nic Uff contributed to this report.
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