Folarin Balogun follows Garrincha's lead with World Cup suspension reversal

Folarin Balogun has become only the second player in World Cup history to avoid suspension following a red card. The United States forward's reprieve echoes a controversial 1962 case involving Brazil's Garrincha, who was sent off but allowed to play in the final after a disciplinary review. Garrincha had been dismissed during Brazil's 4-2 semifinal victory against Chile but FIFA later cleared him for the final, where Brazil won against Czechoslovakia. Balogun's situation marks a rare occurrence in tournament history, establishing a precedent for such decisions under exceptional circumstances. Both cases highlight the unique disciplinary context within World Cup tournaments.

• 9:51 PMYahoo Sports — Revisiting 1962 World Cup red card reversal: How Brazil's Garrincha set precedent for Folarin Balogun's ultra-rare suspension