Donald Trump’s intervention sparked a stunning U-turn at FIFA as Folarin Balogun escaped a World Cup ban

FIFA’s recent decision to rescind Folarin Balogun’s red card has sparked controversy, allowing the American talent to compete with Belgium. (AP photo) In an unprecedented development that sent shockwaves across the soccer world, FIFA has officially overturned United States star forward Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension. The extraordinary decision clarifies the lead of the tournament, which will appear in Monday’s round of 16 blockbuster against Belgium, following a direct intervention by US President Donald Trump.Balogun, who led the host nation’s campaign with three goals, was given an automatic one-match ban after receiving a highly controversial red card for a clumsy ankle challenge on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemović during their 2-0 win in the round of 32. However, Sunday’s bombshell announcement revealed that the ban had been put on a one-year probationary period. It is the first time since 1962 that a red card shown during the World Cup itself has not resulted in an immediate dismissal. The stunning reversal came to light after President Donald Trump personally phoned FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a formal review of the incident. After the announcement, Trump publicly expressed gratitude to soccer’s governing body for reversing what he called a “great injustice,” the Associated Press (AP) reported.On the contrary, the Belgian camp remained absolutely furious. Belgium manager Rudi Garcia furiously mocked the governing body, claiming he did not realize July 5 was April Fools’ Day in Europe, while the Royal Belgian Football Association confirmed it was examining all legal options to preserve the integrity of the sport.United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino aggressively defended the resolution, claiming his team had already been unfairly penalized by playing with ten men for more than 30 minutes during the match.The availability of the 25-year-old Monaco frontman significantly boosts America’s hopes of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time since 2002. With history and political drama intertwined on the pitch, this high-stakes match against Belgium has turned into the most anticipated and contested battle of the tournament.