By RONALD BLUM<\/p>\n
SEATTLE \u2014 Folarin Balogun\u2019s one-game ban was surprisingly suspended by FIFA on Sunday, allowing the forward to play in the United States\u2019 World Cup<\/a> round of 16 game against Belgium on Monday.<\/p>\n Balogun, who leads the Americans with three goals, received a red card<\/a> for stepping awkwardly on a foot of Tarik Muharemovi\u0107 of Bosnia and Herzegovina in a 2-0 round of 32 win on Wednesday.<\/p>\n A red card calls for an automatic one-game suspension but players learned of Balogun\u2019s availability when social media posts started popping up during the 10-minute bus ride Sunday from their hotel to training at the University of Washington.<\/p>\n \u201cI think a lot of us thought it was AI at first,\u2019\u201d defender Chris Richards said.<\/p>\n Balogun\u2019s red card and suspension for the round of 16 match had been one of the most controversial and consequential<\/a> decisions of the World Cup.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you look at the foul, it was just zero intent at all,\u201d U.S. star Christian Pulisic said. \u201cI felt like there was much worse ones that went on this tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n The U.S. Soccer Federation learned of the decision in a message sent to its by FIFA in its portal at 10:31 a.m. EDT.<\/p>\n \u201cThe implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,\u201d FIFA announced. \u201cIf Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.\u201d<\/p>\n U.S. President Donald Trump praised FIFA\u2019s decision. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has repeatedly made efforts to grow close to Trump, even awarding him a FIFA Peace Prize at the World Cup draw.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!\u201d Trump said in a social media post.<\/p>\n Balogun\u2019s three goals included one to give the U.S. the lead against Bosnia. He has matched Landon Donovan in 2010 for the second-most goals by an American in a World Cup, behind only Bert Patenaude\u2019s four in the initial tournament in 1930.<\/p>\n The host U.S. is seeking to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002. The Americans lost in the round of 16 to Ghana in 2010, Belgium in 2014 and the Netherlands in 2022. They failed to advance from the group stage in 2006 and didn\u2019t qualify for the 2018 tournament.<\/p>\n The USSF said it will not make Balogun available for comment Sunday, but Balogun posted on social media a picture of himself in front of U.S. fans and overlaid with music of Michael Jackson\u2019s pop single \u201cBad.\u201d<\/p>\n On Friday, Balogun said he thought a yellow card instead of red<\/a> \u201cwould have been fair.\u201d<\/p>\n FIFA said its decision relied on Article 27 of disciplinary committee rules.<\/p>\n \u201cThe judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure. By suspending the implementation of the sanction, the judicial body subjects the person sanctioned to a probationary period of one to four years,\u201d the rule states.<\/p>\n FIFA in November deferred the final two games of a three-match ban<\/a> for Portugal\u2019s Cristiano Ronaldo for a red card against Ireland<\/a> in a World Cup qualifier, allowing him to play at the start of the World Cup.<\/p>\n Argentine defender Nicol\u00e1s Otamendi and Ecuadoran midfielder Mois\u00e9s Caicedo in April had one-game bans deferred<\/a> for red cards in qualifiers, also allowing them to be available for World Cup openers.<\/p>\n Brazil\u2019s Garrincha was ejected from a 1962 semifinal but allowed to play in the final against Chile after political pressure and scored twice in a 3-1 win.<\/p>\n AP Soccer Writer James Robson and AP Sports Writer Jim Vertuno contributed to this report.<\/p>\n