Seattle (US), July 6 -- FIFA suspended enforcement of a one-match red-card ban imposed on United States striker Folarin Balogun on Sunday, a decision that allows him to feature in Monday's FIFA World Cup round-of-16 match against Belgium.
Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia reacted strongly to the decision at a pre-match press conference, saying, "I just found out that July 5 is FIFA's April Fools' Day." Balogun was sent off for stamping on Tarik Muharemovic during the United States' 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 on July 1.
FIFA said Balogun had been handed a one-match suspension for violating Articles 14 and 66 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, but that under Article 27, enforcement of the sanction had been deferred ...