Trump intervention forces stunning FIFA U-turn as Balogun escapes World Cup ban

In an unprecedented development that has sent shockwaves across the footballing world, FIFA has officially overturned the red-card suspension of United States star striker Folarin Balogun. The extraordinary ruling clears the tournament’s standout forward to feature in Monday’s blockbuster Round of 16 clash against Belgium, following a direct intervention from US President Donald Trump.Balogun, who has spearheaded the host nation's campaign with three goals, was slapped with an automatic one-match ban after receiving a highly controversial straight red card for an awkward ankle challenge on Bosnia and Herzegovina's Tarik Muharemović during their 2-0 Round of 32 victory. However, Sunday's bombshell announcement revealed that the ban has been deferred into a one-year probationary period. This marks the first time since 1962 that a red card shown during the World Cup proper has not resulted in an immediate suspension. The stunning reversal came to light after President Donald Trump placed a personal phone call to FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a formal review of the incident. Following the announcement, Trump publicly expressed gratitude to football's governing body for reversing what he labelled "a great injustice," according to the Associated Press (AP).Conversely, the Belgian camp was left absolutely furious. Belgium manager Rudi Garcia fiercely mocked the governing body, stating he did not realize July 5th was April Fools' Day in Europe, while the Royal Belgian Football Association confirmed they are investigating all legal options to preserve the integrity of the sport.United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino aggressively defended the resolution, arguing that his team had already been unfairly punished by playing with ten men for over 30 minutes during the match.The availability of the 25-year-old Monaco frontman significantly boosts American hopes of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time since 2002. With history and political drama intertwining on the pitch, this high-stakes showdown against Belgium has transformed into the most anticipated and contentious battle of the tournament.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.