Folarin Balogun isn’t the only player who gained from having a red card suspension lifted, as it turns out. Cristiano Ronaldo also managed to dodge missing the initial two matches of the World Cup after a red card and a three-match ban last November. Instead, he only sat out Portugal’s final qualifying game and made his return for the opening match.
This background set the stage for Sunday, when FIFA referenced Article 27 in their decision to allow Balogun, shown a red card during the U.S. men’s national team’s Round of 32 match, to serve a one-year suspended sentence instead of serving his suspension.
Article 27 states that “the judicial body may decide to suspend, in whole or in part, the implementation of disciplinary measures.” It emphasizes that if Balogun faces a similar situation during this probationary period and commits another infraction, his suspension would be enforced, along with any additional penalties for new violations.
Ronaldo received a more lenient ruling back in November following an elbow incident with defender Dara O’Shea during a game between Portugal and Ireland. It was his first red card on the international stage, and like Balogun, he risked a further two-match suspension if he incurred additional offenses while on probation.
The return of Balogun is a significant boost for the USMNT as they prepare for Monday’s Round of 16 clash against Belgium. The striker has already netted three goals in his World Cup debut, including one against Bosnia and Herzegovina before he was sent off for a foul near Tarik Mujaremović’s ankle.
Reflecting on the red card, Balogun mentioned that he experienced a whirlwind of emotions: “I was upset, I was happy, and to be honest, it was surreal. But it was crucial for me to remain calm. I never want to react out of anger or emotion.”
Interestingly, there’s a chance Portugal and the USMNT could face off in the quarterfinals, but Portugal will need to beat Spain in Dallas on Monday to secure their spot in Los Angeles.
