FIFA suspended the automatic one-match ban on United States striker Folarin Balogun on Sunday, clearing him to play against Belgium in the World Cup round of 16, three days after President Donald Trump telephoned FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ask that the case be reviewed.
Balogun was sent off in the U.S. team's 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1, shown a straight red card after a video review found he had planted his boot on the leg of Bosnia's Tarik Muharemović. Under FIFA's rules a red card carries an automatic suspension for the next match, with no route of appeal. Every other player sent off at this tournament has served that ban.
