US President Donald Trump personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of the World Cup suspension handed to United States striker Folarin Balogun, a decision that was later reversed by football's governing body, according to a report by The New York Times.
Balogun was shown a straight red card for inadvertently stepping on Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic during the USA's 2-0 Round of 32 victory on Wednesday.
Under FIFA regulations, a straight red card carries an automatic one-match suspension that cannot ordinarily be appealed by the player's team, ruling Balogun out of the USA's Round of 16 clash against Belgium scheduled for Monday.
However, The New York Times, citing three unnamed sources familiar with the matter, reported that Trump called Infantino on Wednesday to ask that the decision be reviewed.
In an unusual move, FIFA announced on Sunday that Balogun's suspension had been suspended for one year, making him eligible to face Belgium in the Round of 16.
Trump welcomed the decision in a post on social media, thanking FIFA for "reversing a great injustice."
Belgium's football association, however, reacted with surprise, saying on Sunday it was "astonished" by FIFA's decision to overturn the suspension.
