Folarin Balogun will be available for the United States’ World Cup round-of-16 match against Belgium on Monday after FIFA’s disciplinary committee suspended the red card he received in the Americans’ 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The red card, which normally would have resulted in an automatic suspension for the team’s next match, was suspended in a decision announced Sunday by FIFA’s disciplinary committee. The move made Balogun eligible for selection against Belgium and, according to the source text, “sent shockwaves across the sports world.”
Shortly after the committee’s announcement, Balogun posted an image of himself on the pitch to Instagram with no caption and later added the opening verse of Michael Jackson’s “Bad” to his story. The story concluded with the lyric “Gonna hurt your mind,” a post the source described as potentially directed at Belgium, which expressed shock over the decision.
Balogun has scored four goals in five games at this World Cup as the United States seeks to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.
The U.S. previously lost to Belgium at this stage in 2014, but that squad did not include Balogun, who figures to be a focal point for Belgium in Monday’s match.
