Will Folarin Balogun have to serve his red-card suspension later in World Cup if USA beats Belgium?
Will Folarin Balogun have to serve his red-card suspension later in World Cup if USA beats Belgium? originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Folarin Balogun's suspension was suspended.
That's really the most accurate wording for what has happened with the United States striker. His red card from the World Cup Round of 32 was set to keep him out for one match, the Round of 16 against Belgium. But on Sunday, news broke that Balogun will be allowed to play on Monday.
The key, it seems, is that the suspension has not been nullified, at least based on the reports that have emerged so far.
The suspension, legitimately, has been suspended.
The implication of that word is that eventually, Balogun will have to sit out a competitive match for the U.S. to serve that red-card ban.
MORE: How Folarin Balogun is allowed to play vs. Belgium after red card
Will Folarin Balogun miss a game later in the World Cup?
It seems highly unlikely that FIFA would make this decision only to then come back and say Balogun has to miss a later match.
Could you imagine? USA beats Belgium, has to face Spain, and FIFA reinforces the one-match suspension. The outrage would be even wilder.
So technically, at least based on the language so far, it seems FIFA will make Balogun sit a match at some point.
But that may be a future qualifier or CONCACAF Nations League game, rather than a World Cup match.
FIFA did something like this with Cristiano Ronaldo, who still has a two-match suspension to serve at a later date.
Now, it appears Balogun may simply have a one-match suspension somewhere down the road.
In the meantime, the U.S. will gladly welcome their star striker back to the pitch.
More FIFA World Cup news:
What's Your Reaction?
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Wow
0
Sad
0
Angry
0
Comments (0)