The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has lodged an appeal against FIFA’s decision to grant US star forward Folarin Balogun permission to play against the Red Devils despite a red card, less than 24 hours out from the team’s Round of 16 game against the United States.
Balogun was shown a red card during the United States’ Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday for stepping on the right foot of Tarik Muharemovic, triggering an automatic one-game suspension. However, FIFA announced on Sunday that the ban had been suspended, a ruling that immediately sparked widespread debate and a strong reaction from the RBFA.
The RBFA said in a statement the move was in “direct contradiction” of the competition regulations and said it is exploring “all potential options.”
According to reports, FIFA has classified the correspondence from the RBFA as a formal appeal and has appointed a member of the FIFA Appeal Committee to hear the case on an urgent basis, though there is no guarantee a ruling will be made before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between the US and Belgium at Seattle Stadium.
The RBFA is currently preparing the relevant documentation to challenge FIFA’s decision. However, as of now, the association has not yet formally received written notification from FIFA regarding the decision to overturn the red card.
Both the RBFA and US Soccer were reportedly asked to submit their arguments by 5 a.m. Pacific Time, just 12 hours before the scheduled kick-off.
Suspension lifted after Trump’s call
US President Donald Trump reportedly intervened in support of Balogun, allowing him to play against Belgium in Monday’s FIFA World Cup match.
Trump called Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s president, in the hours after the match and asked him to review Balogun’s suspension, The New York Times reported, citing four people familiar with the conversation.
In a press release on Monday, FIFA said Balogun will be available to play in the co-host’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match against Belgium.
By operation of Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC), the automatic match suspension for Balogun has been suspended for a probationary period of one year, it said.
The FDC’s Article 27 allows FIFA’s judicial body to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The reversal is highly unusual and is the first time since 1962 that FIFA has allowed a player to appear in a game after being sent off in the World Cup, according to The New York Times.
UEFA condemns FIFA for lifting Balogun’s suspension
European football’s governing body, UEFA, on Monday strongly criticized FIFA’s decision.
In a statement published Monday, UEFA said FIFA’s decision “to suspend for a probationary period of a year the implementation of the one-match automatic suspension following the red card issued to the player Folarin Balogun crossed a red line.”
“Football, like any other sport, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition. Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case, not,” UEFA said.
It added that “a minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted. It is a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension.”
UEFA said football’s global appeal rests on the consistent application of its laws.
“Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because it is played everywhere with the same laws,” the statement said, warning that “the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined” by what it called FIFA’s “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.”
(With input from agencies)
CGTN
