US President Donald Trump contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of the World Cup suspension imposed on USA striker Folarin Balogun. Balogun had received a straight red card for inadvertently stepping on Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic during the USA's 2-0 victory in the last 32 stage on Wednesday.

Under FIFA rules, a straight red card results in an automatic one-game ban that cannot be appealed, which initially ruled Balogun out of the USA's last 16 match against Belgium scheduled for Monday. However, following Trump's call to Infantino on Wednesday, FIFA took the unusual step on Sunday, July 5, to suspend the ban for one year, effectively reversing the suspension.

President Trump expressed gratitude on social media for what he called "reversing a great injustice." Meanwhile, Belgium's football association publicly stated on Sunday that it was "astonished" by FIFA's decision.

Sources