US President Donald Trump on Sunday thanked football's world governing body FIFA for suspending Falorin Balogun's ban that allows the US star striker to play against Belgium this week.

Balogun was given a straight red card during the Round of 32 match between the World Cup co-hosts and Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday for accidentally planting his studs high on a defender's ankle.

World Cup: Trump thanks FIFA for suspending Balogun's ban

Karl Sexton with AFP, AP, Reuters

US President Donald Trump reportedly called Gianni Infantino to ask him to lift Falorin Balogun's red card ban to allow him to play against Belgium. The Belgian FA has called the decision "astonishing."

Balogun's teammates and his coach, Mauricio Pochettino, had said the red card, which was given after an intervention by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), was harsh because the star striker had not intended to harm the defender.

According to the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which is known for determining the sport's laws, serious foul play is judged by the nature of a challenge and how dangerous it is — not by whether the player intended to cause injury.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday thanked football's world governing body FIFA for suspending Falorin Balogun's ban that allows the US star striker to play against Belgium this week.

Balogun was given a straight red card during the Round of 32 match between the World Cup co-hosts and Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday for accidentally planting his studs high on a defender's ankle.

Balogun's teammates and his coach, Mauricio Pochettino, had said the red card, which was given after an intervention by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), was harsh because the star striker had not intended to harm the defender.

According to the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which is known for determining the sport's laws, serious foul play is judged by the nature of a challenge and how dangerous it is — not by whether the player intended to cause injury.

FIFA rules say a red card triggers an automatic one-match suspension, which the player's team cannot appeal.

But on Sunday night, FIFA issued a statement saying Balogun's one-match ban was being "suspended for a probationary period of one year."

FIFA did not provide any further details about why it had taken the decision.

Balogun is the USA's leading scorer with three goals at the tournament so far, and his absence against Belgium on Monday would have dented their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

FIFA's decision to suspend Balogun's ban came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had called for the red card to be rescinded, claiming the US had been "screwed."

Trump — who has enjoyed a close and public relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino — took to his Truth Social platform to welcome the decision: "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!"

The White House also celebrated the decision in a post on social media.

https://www.dw.com/en/world-cup-trump-thanks-fifa-for-suspending-baloguns-red-card-ban/a-77840972

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Jarell Quansah [HE DID NOT MEAN TO HARM ANYONE AND HE HIT THE BALL] was sent off in England's Round of 16 match against Mexico as Thomas Tuchel's decision to play him over Djed Spence backfired.

In the 53rd minute, Quansah came charging for the ball and slid with his studs up. And while the England star was able to get to the ball first, he did get a lot of Jesus Gallardo's left shin, causing the latter to crash to the ground in pain as the Mexican bench rose in anger with the reckless challenge. 

Originally, the players on the pitch kept playing on as Gallardo writhed in pain, causing the Mexican bench to approach England's bench as the two sides went at each other. With the two benches facing off against one another, the referee, Alireza Faghani, was forced to stop the match. 

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It was then that he and the officiating crew congregated to review Quansah's challenge. After a very quick review, the 23-year-old was shown a red card, immediately putting England at a disadvantage as they were forced to finish the rest of the match with only 10 men. 

Quansah became the first England player since 2006 to be sent off in the World Cup. Wayne Rooney was the last England star to be sent off, in a match 20 years ago against Portugal. 

With the match at 3-2 with less than 20 minutes remaining, Tuchel eventually brought Spence in at the 74th minute to focus primarily on defense, with Mexico constantly attacking and building momentum against the short-handed England squad. It was clear that the Mexican squad had all the energy as they continually pushed into the England box.

https://www.aol.com/articles/breaking-england-replacement-sent-off-022546000.html

TOON AT TOP... GUS THINKS THAT THE MOST POWERFUL PERSON IN THE WORLD [Gianni Infantino] SHOULD BE ASKED BY SOME ROYALTIES TO REMOVE THE RED CARD ON THE ENGLISH PLAYER.... 

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