SEATTLE (AP) 鈥� Folarin Balogun is in the United States’ starting lineup for Monday’s World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium after his red-card suspension was lifted by FIFA in a decision that across the sport.
for stepping on an opponent鈥檚 ankle last Wednesday during the Americans鈥� 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, triggering an automatic one-game suspension.
鈥淭o have all the players available always is a good news,鈥� U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said during a pregame interview on the television broadcast. 鈥淭o have the possibility to have Balo again with us and being available is important for the team. … He scored three goals and I think he is doing a fantastic job.鈥�
Following a , FIFA’s disciplinary committee on Sunday, prompting the European governing body UEFA to call the decision 鈥渦nprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.鈥�
Belgium’s attempt to have FIFA reinstate the suspension was denied by FIFA’s appeals committee, which said the Belgian federation lacked standing.
Belgium fans chanted 鈥淔IFA Mafia鈥� during their pregame march to Lumen Field.
Infantino said he did not play a role in the decision by the disciplinary committee, which also fined Balogun $40,000, a penalty that can be paid by the U.S. Soccer Federation.
The U.S. started an unchanged lineup, while Belgium dropped J茅r茅my Doku and Kevin DeBruyne, who began on the bench along with Romelu Lukaku. The Red Devils also left out Artur Teatre and Hans Vanaken, while inserting Dodi Luk茅bakio, Amadou Onana, Nicolas Raskin and Nathan Ngoy.
Balogun’s three goals lead the U.S., which has never won consecutive knockout-rounds games at the World Cup. Belgium eliminated the Americans in the 2014 round of 16.
The U.S.-Belgium winner faces Spain on Friday at Inglewood, California, for a semifinal berth against France or Morocco. The U.S. last reached the quarterfinals in 2002, when it was knocked out by Germany. The Americans advanced to the semifinals of the first World Cup in 1930.
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