Folarin Balogun will be allowed to play for the US men’s soccer team in its World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday after FIFA suspended a one-game ban on the striker.
Balogun, a star striker who has scored three goals so far in this year’s tournament, received a red card and was ejected from last week’s US game against Bosnia and Herzegovina for a foul against a defender. A red card is automatically accompanied by a one-game suspension.
FIFA said in a statement that its Disciplinary Committee suspended the automatic one-game ban and that Balogun will instead be on probation for one year.
The Royal Belgian Football Association said it is “astonished” by the decision in a statement on its website.
“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 RBFA wrote in its statement.
