President Donald Trump commended FIFA on Sunday for postponing the red card awarded to USA forward Folarin Balogun, allowing him to participate in a World Cup last-16 match against Belgium.
Balogun was set to miss Monday’s encounter after receiving a straight red card in the last-32 game against Bosnia-Herzegovina for stepping on defender Tarik Muharemovic, which the co-hosts won 2-0.
FIFA announced Sunday that the ban would be suspended for a year.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Balogun has been critical to the USA’s development in the tournament, and his absence against Belgium would have been detrimental to the team.
FIFA said in a statement, “In line with article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year.”
Following the red card, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged for the card to be revoked.
