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SEATTLE — <\/span>U.S. President Donald Trump intervened on behalf of American star forward Folarin Balogun, whose suspension was lifted in a decision that allows him to play in a World Cup match against Belgium on Monday.<\/p>\n Balogun, the American leader with three goals, received a red card<\/a> for stepping awkwardly on the right ankle of Tarik Muharemovi\u0107 of Bosnia and Herzegovina in a 2-0 round of 32 win on Wednesday. A red card triggers an automatic one-game suspension.<\/p>\n FIFA announced Sunday that the suspension had been lifted, triggering praise from Trump and outrage from Belgium\u2019s team.<\/p>\n Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino after the game asking FIFA review the red card, according to a person familiar with the call who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!\u201d Trump said in a statement on social media.<\/p>\n The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it was \u201castonished” and Belgium coach Rudi Garcia mocked FIFA\u2019s action.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t know that in the offices of FIFA the 5th of July was the 1st of April in Europe,\u201d Garcia said through a translator in an April Fools’ Day comparison. \u201cThe Belgian federation does not defend itself, it does not protect the national team, She defends football in general, she defends her integrity, her ethics. I think it\u2019s the first time in the history of the World Cup that there is this kind of decision.\u201d<\/p>\n Garcia wouldn\u2019t respond when asked about a possible appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport or whether he thought Trump impacted FIFA\u2019s action.<\/p>\n \u201cIn order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options,\u201d the Belgian federation said in a statement.<\/p>\n American 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\u2019s Husky Soccer Stadium.<\/p>\n Balogun\u2019s red card had been one of the World Cup’s most controversial and consequential<\/a> decisions.<\/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 FIFA’s action in a message sent 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 Balogun\u2019s three goals included a go-ahead strike against Bosnia. He 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 A 25-year-old who plays for Monaco, Balogun scored 13 Ligue 1 goals last season. He has 12 goals in 30 international appearances. He was born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents who were living in London and in 2023 opted to change his national team affiliation from England<\/a>, which he had represented at the under-21 level.<\/p>\n \u201cHe strikes fear into a lot of defenders,\u201d Richards said.<\/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.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n Price reported from Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n AP Soccer Writer James Robson and AP Sports Writers Andrew Destin and Jim Vertuno contributed to this report.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n See more of AP\u2019s World Cup coverage here<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n