FIFA makes final ruling on US soccer star Folarin Balogun's controversial red card suspension
1994 USA World Cup player John Harkes, who was suspended himself for yellow card violations, wants to see FIFA change its red card rules after Folarin Balogun's suspension.
The United States Men's National Team is coming off of a massive victory on Wednesday night over Bosnia and Herzegovina, but there is a big cloud hanging over them for the next match against Belgium.
That's because the team will be without star striker Folarin Balogun after he was dealt a wildly controversial red card in the second half of the match.
That, of course, means a suspension is coming his way, but the U.S. got some good news on Friday when FIFA confirmed that the suspension would be for just one match.
MAJOR SOCCER GOVERNING BODY NIXING FIFA'S MOUTH-COVERING RED CARD MANDATE FOR FUTURE GAMES
While it was always pretty unlikely that FIFA could add extra games to Balogun's suspension, they've formally decided not to, and that's the best possible outcome for the U.S. in this scenario.
US striker Folarin Balogun's controversial red card was one of the biggest moments of the team's win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images))
There is no mechanism through which the U.S. could appeal this decision, so all it could do was hope the suspension would be limited to one match.
Balogun himself gave his first comments on the incident on Friday, shortly after FIFA's decision to keep the suspension at one game was made public.
ALEXI LALAS RIPS REFEREES AFTER FOLARIN BALOGUN RED CARD IN TEAM USA WIN: 'AN ABSOLUTE JOKE'
"It’s important for me to say, first and foremost, it was totally unintentional," he said Friday. "The choice of the referee was his choice. I don’t think it was the correct choice. I think a yellow card would’ve


