"Bad, bad, bad, bad, bad decision." That was Norway coach Ståle Solbakken's verdict on FIFA reversing Folarin Balogun's one-game suspension — and it's hard to argue with the sentiment, even if the timing stings more for some than others.
Solbakken spoke after his side knocked Brazil out of the World Cup 2-0, so he had every reason to be in a good mood. He wasn't. The FIFA decision to lift Balogun's automatic ban — triggered by a red card during the USA's Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina — clearly landed wrong with him, and with a lot of people watching.
What FIFA actually did
Balogun picked up a red card following a VAR review during the USA's 2-0 win over Bosnia. Under FIFA's own rules, that triggers an automatic one-game ban. Clear policy, clear consequence.
Then President Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Trump confirmed the call himself, from the Oval Office, praising the move as reversing "a great injustice." FIFA's Disciplinary Committee subsequently delayed Balogun's suspension "for a probationary period of one year," freeing him to play against Belgium on Monday.
FIFA was careful to point out that Infantino doesn't sit on the Disciplinary Committee — it's chaired by Mohammad Al Kamali of the UAE, with 17 other members, none American. There is also genuine precedent: FIFA deferred part of Cristiano Ronaldo's three-game ban in November, allowing him to play in this tournament without interruption. So this isn't entirely without basis.
But the optics of a sitting president calling the FIFA president — who personally awarded Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in December — and then watching the ban disappear within days? That's a different kind of problem.
Why it matters beyond Monday's match
The Royal Belgian Football Association called it "astonishing" and formally appealed. Belgium have every right to be furious. They're playing a Round of 16 match against a team whose leading scorer — three goals in the tournament — just had his suspension erased under circumstances no one can fully explain.
Solbakken put it plainly: "If they beat Belgium, it will always have that extra thing about it. Yes, maybe he scores a goal, maybe plays a good game, and Belgium will be furious."
He also raised the question nobody at FIFA seems keen to answer: "What about the next red card? What happens then? Is there going to be some committee somewhere that is going to take that card away?"
For anyone pricing the USA vs Belgium line, Balogun's availability is now a confirmed factor — but so is the cloud hanging over every result the USA produce from here. If Balogun scores and the USA advance, this story doesn't go away. It follows them to the quarterfinals and beyond.
"Not good for the sport," Solbakken said. He's right. And FIFA don't have a clean answer to give.
