FIFA lets Balogun face Belgium after US protests red card
What's new: The intervention drew in Donald Trump and Marco Rubio ahead of the U.S. World Cup round-of-16 match in Seattle.
FIFA allowed U.S. striker Folarin Balogun to play against Belgium after a highly unusual review of the red card he received against Bosnia and Herzegovina, thrusting the World Cup hosts into a wider controversy. Balogun had been set for an automatic one-game suspension after he was sent off in the win in the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, where he also scored his third goal of the tournament. NPR reported that Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to seek a review, and Marco Rubio also weighed in publicly. The U.S. advanced to face Belgium in Seattle with Balogun's status becoming a political flashpoint as well as a major sporting issue.