In a sports world where the exclusion of an athlete often sparks lawsuits or threatened lawsuits, USMNT striker Folarin Balogun on Sunday learned that sometimes good news can happen without law.
FIFA announced that Balogun, who had received an automatic one-match suspension for a straight red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina last Wednesday, will be eligible to play against Belgium on Monday in the World Cup round of 16.
The move by FIFA did not follow an appeal by Balogun or the USMNT, as no such appeal was possible under FIFA rules.
Instead, FIFA relied on the discretion provided by Article 27 of its disciplinary code. Article 27 permits FIFA to suspend a disciplinary measure, as “the judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”
The New York Times reported Sunday that on Wednesday, President Donald Trump called FIFA president Giovanni Infantino asking for Balogun’s suspension to be reviewed. Trump and Infantino have cultivated a cozy relationship in the lead-up to this North American-hosted World Cup, including FIFA creating and awarding Trump with the first FIFA Peace Prize in December—reportedly at Infantino’s discretion.
