American soccer pundits are celebrating after USMNT striker Folarin Balogun has been cleared to play in the Round of 16 of the World Cup – a decision made after President Donald Trump allegedly appealed to FIFA.
Balogun was set to miss the tie against Belgium after being issued a controversial red card in the Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
But on Sunday, FIFA invoked Article 27 of their Disciplinary Code and announced that ‘the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year.’
American soccer fans and pundits were overjoyed at the news that Balogun was set to play in the match.
‘Flo is back LFG!!!!’ former USMNT striker Landon Donovan posted on X.
Former US international Clint Dempsey dropped a side-eye emoji while his former USA teammate Jimmy Conrad posted, ‘FREE FLO BALOGUN.’
American fans and pundits are celebrating the return of Folarin Balogun for the Belgium game
Former USA players Landon Donovan (L) and Alexi Lalas (R) were overjoyed by the decision
It was revealed President Trump called Gianni Infantino so he could ‘review’ the suspension
Fox Sports pundit Alexi Lalas wrote, ‘Great news for USMNT as FIFA suspends Balogun’s 1-gm suspension and he’ll be allowed to play vs Belgium. But it’s now (even more so) U.S. vs. world. Any support, affinity, or benefit of doubt from rest of world just went out the window. Applies to refs too. Bring it on!’
Former athletes in other sports also celebrated the news. Tom Brady quote-tweeted a video of famous American sports moments and wrote, ‘We’re adding a Balogun goal to this list tomorrow.’
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle was also hyped, posting, ‘Flo is back,’ with multiple American flag emojis.
In the aftermath of the announcement, multiple reports indicated that President Trump made a call to FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ask if Balogun’s suspension could be reviewed.
Following the decision, Trump posted to Truth Social: ‘Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!’
Outside of the United States, reaction to the news was overwhelmingly negative.
‘I do not think it was a red card, and we all said it. We all know that it was not… he didn’t do that on purpose, we all know that. But I have to say that if you’re Belgium, to prepare the game, it does change everything,’ Thierry Henry said on Fox Sports.
‘I will not say that never happened before, because it must have happened in the history of the World Cup… but whatever the rule is, I’m just saying I was just kind of like “okay, it is the right call, but why so late? Why didn’t it happen straight away?”‘
Meanwhile, Roy Keane (L) and Gary Neville (R) criticized the decision from FIFA
ITV pundit Gary Neville said, ‘It absolutely stinks. Let’s be really clear. But what I would say is the thing that stinks the most is there should be a review process in place.
‘I actually didn’t think it was a red card, and I think there should be a process which allows it to be overturned.
‘But if there’s no process for it to be overturned, and then somehow FIFA from nowhere have just decided to basically let a player play, and the rules [should be] the same for everybody.’
Fellow pundit and former Manchester United teammate Roy Keane shared a similar opinion.
‘It seems unfair because it is unfair,’ the former Ireland captain said. ‘It seems like a bit of a pals’ act, shall we say.’
