Folarin Balogun could still be banned for USA’s World Cup showdown against Belgium on Monday night after soccer was plunged into a civil war over Donald Trump’s intervention over the star’s red card.
Furios Belgium soccer bosses have been granted the right to appeal the FIFA ruling that allowed Balogun’s ban to be overturned and it is possible, although at this stage not guaranteed, that a decision is made before Monday night’s game in Seattle.
Both the United States and Belgium have been asked to provide information over the appeal by 5am PST on Monday morning. The game kicks off at 5pm PST.
Balogun, USA’s top scorer in the tournament with three goals, was given a straight red card during the USA’s 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the last 32 – a decision that was roundly criticized at the time. But it meant that Balogun was to be banned from the next USA game.
Sources have since confirmed to the Daily Mail that the decision was questioned by President Trump, who called FIFA President Gianni Infantino ‘to better understand the reason why a red card was given and why there was a suspension.’
The source added that the ‘US government provided additional evidence that was used in the appeal process.’
Belgium have appealed to get USA striker Folarin Balogun re-banned for their last-16 game
FIFA then announced on Sunday that it had suspended Balogun’s ban for a one-year ‘probationary’ period, wiping it out unless he commits another offence of ‘similar nature and gravity’.
After FIFA kicked back Balogun’s ban, Trump, who was awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize by Infantino last year, wrote on Truth Social: ‘Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP.’
‘We celebrate that decision,’ USA manager Mauricio Pochettino said on Sunday. ‘This is good for football, to celebrate [that] in the next game if an unfair thing happens you can reverse the decision.’
But now, his plans are potentially in chaos if his star man is ruled out once again just hours before the game starts.
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