FIFA Clears 3-Goal Balogun for Belgium Clash as RBFA Weighs Options
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 5
FIFA Clears 3-Goal Balogun for Belgium Clash as RBFA Weighs Options
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 5
Summary
Folarin Balogun was declared eligible for Monday's World Cup round-of-16 match in Seattle after FIFA suspended the automatic one-game ban tied to his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Article 27 of FIFA's disciplinary code let the committee pause the suspension for a one-year probationary period, overturning a punishment many fans and pundits had already called too harsh.
Belgium's federation said it was "stunned" and argued the move conflicts with both FIFA's disciplinary code and World Cup regulations, which it says make a red-card suspension automatic for the next match.
The RBFA said it is considering all possible options before facing a U.S. side boosted by its leading scorer, whose three tournament goals return for a knockout game against ninth-ranked Belgium.