What is FIFA's Article 27 Disciplinary Code? Legal Loophole Clears Folarin Balogun to Play despite a Red Card

Folarin Balogun of the United States Men’s National Team becomes the first exception to play in the World Cup Round of 16 on Monday despite receiving a red card and a one match ban in his previous match. The 25 year old forward received a straight red card during the 64th minute of USA’s 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

His one match suspension was ruled under the Article 27 disciplinary code of FIFA. 

FIFA’s organising body has recently invoked Article 27 from its rulebook and thus the one-match ban on the star striker Folarin Balogun became null and void. 

What is FIFA’s Article 27 and how does it benefit the USMNT?

Both the one match ban and the sudden reversal of Balogun’s suspension center entirely on Article 27 of the Disciplinary Code of FIFA. 

Under usual circumstances a direct red card to any player means an immediate non appealable suspension for the following match. But Article 27 also allows the FIFA Disciplinary Committee to fully or partially suspend any athlete on probation while executing any sanction. 

So the committee this time has taken the authority to reverse the one-match ban on Balogun during the knockout tie at Seattle Stadium and put the player under a probationary period of one year instead. 

And in case he manages to avoid another serious disciplinary infraction over the next 12 months the suspension remains on hold indefinitely.

Global Reaction Over FIFA's Article 27 Disciplinary Code Twist

The sudden reversal of the FIFA disciplinary code has triggered instant fury across the Atlantic which was not very surprising. The Royal Belgian Football Association right after the announcement of Balogun's inclusion in the US team for Monday’s match released a statement to express absolute astonishment. 

The Belgian FA argued that the decision directly violates Article 10.5 of the World Cup Regulations which mandates automatic single-game bans for red cards and claims the ruling damages the fundamental principles of fair play.  

There have been reports that U.S. President Donald Trump had personally spoken with FIFA President Gianni Infantino to discuss the fairness of the initial red card to add fuel to the fire. Trump took to social media to praise the decision and posted, "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!" after the changes in Article 27 of FIFA were announced publicly.