SEATTLE (AP) — In a surprising turn of events, U.S. President Donald Trump intervened regarding the red card suspension of star U.S. forward Folarin Balogun, which has now been lifted, allowing him to participate in the crucial World Cup match against Belgium on Monday. Balogun, who leads the American side with three goals in the tournament, received a red card after an incident where he inadvertently stepped on the ankle of Tarik Muharemovic from Bosnia-Herzegovina during a 2-0 victory in the round of 32 on Wednesday, leading to an automatic one-game suspension.

The decision by FIFA to lift Balogun's suspension, announced on Sunday, has been met with a mix of appreciation and condemnation. Notably, it marks a potentially unprecedented moment in World Cup history, as this is believed to be the first instance since 1962 where a red card did not result in a suspension. Following the game, Trump made a call to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, urging a review of the red card's repercussions. A source familiar with the situation indicated that the call was made anonymously.

Trump expressed his gratitude towards FIFA, stating, "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!" The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) responded with astonishment to this decision, voicing their concerns through coach Rudi Garcia, who made light of the situation by comparing it to an April Fools’ Day prank, hinting that the integrity of the sport was at stake.

Garcia refrained from commenting on whether Belgium would pursue an appeal through the Court of Arbitration for Sport in response to this decision or if Trump’s intervention had any influence on FIFA's actions. However, the RBFA did mention that they are exploring all possible options to protect the rights of all participating teams in light of this unprecedented ruling.

American players were informed of Balogun's availability during their journey from their hotel to training at the University of Washington's Husky Soccer Stadium, where they were welcomed by the university's mascot, Dubs II. The referee who issued Balogun’s red card, Brazil's Raphael Claus, had initially declined to show a card but later opted for the red after reviewing the play.

U.S. star Christian Pulisic commented on the decision, stating, “If you look at the foul, there was zero intent at all. I felt like there were much worse ones that went on in this tournament.” The U.S. Soccer Federation received notification from FIFA around 10:31 a.m. EDT regarding the lifting of the suspension, indicating that Balogun would be subject to a probationary period lasting one year. Under FIFA's regulations, if Balogun commits another similar infringement during this period, the suspension will be enacted without any additional sanctions possibly being placed on him.

U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino praised FIFA’s decision, asserting that the punishment against Balogun was excessive given the context of the match where the team had to play with ten men for 30 minutes. He acknowledged Trump’s call to Infantino as not surprising, given the sport's profound significance in cultures like Argentina and Europe.

Controversially, England's coach Thomas Tuchel raised concerns over potential implications of this ruling, questioning if future yellow card decisions could also be reviewed and overturned. The debate, he suggested, could lead to endless contentions over refereeing decisions throughout the tournament.

In terms of statistics, Balogun has made a name for himself by scoring three World Cup goals, matching Landon Donovan's record from 2010 for the second highest for an American in World Cup history, falling just behind Bert Patenaude's four goals scored in the inaugural tournament in 1930. The 25-year-old, who plays for AS Monaco, opted to represent the United States in 2023 after previously playing for England at the under-21 level.

The U.S. national team, having struggled in past tournaments, is eager to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002. In previous editions, they faced defeats in the round of 16 against Ghana in 2010, Belgium in 2014, and the Netherlands in 2022. They also failed to progress past the group stage in 2006 and did not qualify for the 2018 tournament. As Balogun prepares to take the field against Belgium, the stakes have never been higher.