Fifa World Cup: Donald Trump called Fifa chief to review USA’s red card

Overnight, Fifa took the unusual decision to suspend the ban for one year. Trump quickly thanked the governing body in a social media post for “reversing a great injustice”.

Belgium’s football association said it was “astonished” at Fifa’s decision.

At the weekend, Trump thanked Fifa for suspending the red card.

“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Balogun has been key to the USA’s progress in the tournament and his absence against Belgium would have been a blow to the team.

Fifa said in a statement: “In line with article 27 of the Fifa disciplinary code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year.”

After the red card, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had called for the card to be rescinded.

Before being shown the red card, Balogun scored in the 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It was the co-hosts’ first World Cup knockout victory in nearly a quarter-century – and only their second ever.

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