President Trump expresses gratitude to FIFA after they lift US player Balogun's World Cup dismissal

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President Donald Trump on Sunday thanked football’s world governing body FIFA for suspending the red card issued to USA’s Folarin Balogun, paving the way for the striker to play in a last-16 World Cup showdown against Belgium.

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Balogun was set to miss the match on Monday after being shown a straight red card in the last-32 game against Bosnia-Herzegovina for stepping on the foot of defender Tarik Muharemovic as the co-hosts won 2-0.

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FIFA said Sunday the ban will be suspended for a year.

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

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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.

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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.”

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After the red card, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had called for the card to be rescinded.

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