Seattle, UNITED STATES – US President Donald Trump has publicly praised FIFA’s disciplinary committee after the soccer governing body suspended a tournament ban on USMNT star striker Folarin Balogun ahead of their crucial World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium.
Taking to his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump expressed immense relief and gratitude over the regulatory intervention, stating: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Okay News reports that Trump’s remarks echo a wave of political and public backlash within the host nation following Balogun’s highly debated dismissal during the previous knockout round.
The 25-year-old forward, who leads the American attack with three goals in the tournament, was shown a straight red card by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus during Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The sending-off occurred after a VAR review highlighted a challenge where Balogun inadvertently stepped on the back of defender Tarik Muharemovic’s ankle while attempting to shield a looping ball. Top state officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, had fiercely criticized the decision, publicly lamenting that the hosts had been “screwed.”
In a surprising and rare twist on Sunday, FIFA announced that the automatic one-game ban would be put on hold under Article 27 of its disciplinary code. The governing body placed the striker on a one-year probationary period, warning that any similar infraction within the next twelve months would immediately revoke the reprieve. The ruling heavily swings betting lines back in favor of Mauricio Pochettino’s side as the USMNT prepares for Monday’s blockbuster clash at Seattle Stadium, looking to book a quarterfinal slot for the first time since 2002.
