FIFA has released a statement confirming Folarin Balogun will be eligible to play for the United States during their round-of-16 clash against Belgium. Balogun had been sent off for a dubious challenge during the USMNT’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round-of-32, with the expectation that the former England youth international would sit out the next match against Belgium.
However, news broke on Sunday night that the red card had been suspended, with FIFA having invoked Article 27 of their own disciplinary code. The governing body stated that if Balogun “commits another infringement of a similar nature” than the suspension shall be revoked and he will serve the punishment.
The Belgian FA opted to challenge the decision with FIFA ahead of the match, which is scheduled for Monday evening US time. FIFA’s appeal committee rendered the request as “inadmissible”, meaning Balogun is free to take to the field for the round-of-16 fixture.
The statement read: “The request was rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision.”