Belgium FA Appeals FIFA’S Decision to Overturn Balogun’s Suspension

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has formally challenged FIFA’s extraordinary decision to clear USMNT striker Folarin Balogun to play in Monday’s World Cup round of 16 game against Belgium in Seattle, despite Balogun receiving a red card in the USA’s previous game.

Balogun was sent off in the Americans’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina after a video review showed him stepping on the ankle of the defender, Muharemović, triggering what is normally an automatic one-game suspension.

FIFA reversed that suspension on Sunday, citing Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which allows the “implementation of the automatic match suspension” to be put on hold for a one-year probationary period.

The reversal came after reports that U.S. President Donald Trump personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino asking the organization to review the ban, with U.S. officials reportedly presenting “additional evidence” focused on the replay used to issue the red card.

Trump publicly thanked FIFA for the decision on Truth Social, while Belgium’s federation said it was “astonished,” arguing the ruling directly contradicts Article 66.4 of FIFA’s own disciplinary code as well as Article 10.5 of the World Cup 2026 competition regulations, both of which state that a red card automatically triggers a suspension for the next match.

The RBFA said it had still not received FIFA’s written decision or an explanation despite requesting one, and said it had “no choice but to challenge the player’s eligibility” for the match.

FIFA has reportedly granted Belgium the right to appeal, with submissions due from both federations and a member of FIFA’s appeals committee; someone unaffiliated with FIFA, UEFA, or CONCACAF set to hear the case, possibly just hours before kickoff.

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia likened the timing to “April Fools’,” while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said the team would have preferred more time to prepare mentally.

UEFA also weighed in critically, saying the decision undermines “the integrity of the game” and calling it “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”

The move appears to be only the second time in World Cup history that a red-card suspension has been lifted, the first being Brazil’s Garrincha ahead of the 1962 final.

Belgium FA Appeals FIFA’S Decision to Overturn Balogun’s Suspension

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has formally challenged FIFA’s extraordinary decision to clear USMNT striker Folarin Balogun to play in Monday’s World Cup round of 16 game against Belgium in Seattle, despite Balogun receiving a red card in the USA’s previous game.

Balogun was sent off in the Americans’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina after a video review showed him stepping on the ankle of the defender, Muharemović, triggering what is normally an automatic one-game suspension.

FIFA reversed that suspension on Sunday, citing Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which allows the “implementation of the automatic match suspension” to be put on hold for a one-year probationary period.

The reversal came after reports that U.S. President Donald Trump personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino asking the organization to review the ban, with U.S. officials reportedly presenting “additional evidence” focused on the replay used to issue the red card.

Trump publicly thanked FIFA for the decision on Truth Social, while Belgium’s federation said it was “astonished,” arguing the ruling directly contradicts Article 66.4 of FIFA’s own disciplinary code as well as Article 10.5 of the World Cup 2026 competition regulations, both of which state that a red card automatically triggers a suspension for the next match.

The RBFA said it had still not received FIFA’s written decision or an explanation despite requesting one, and said it had “no choice but to challenge the player’s eligibility” for the match.

FIFA has reportedly granted Belgium the right to appeal, with submissions due from both federations and a member of FIFA’s appeals committee; someone unaffiliated with FIFA, UEFA, or CONCACAF set to hear the case, possibly just hours before kickoff.

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia likened the timing to “April Fools’,” while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said the team would have preferred more time to prepare mentally.

UEFA also weighed in critically, saying the decision undermines “the integrity of the game” and calling it “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”

The move appears to be only the second time in World Cup history that a red-card suspension has been lifted, the first being Brazil’s Garrincha ahead of the 1962 final.

Belgium FA Appeals FIFA’S Decision to Overturn Balogun’s Suspension

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has formally challenged FIFA’s extraordinary decision to clear USMNT striker Folarin Balogun to play in Monday’s World Cup round of 16 game against Belgium in Seattle, despite Balogun receiving a red card in the USA’s previous game.

Balogun was sent off in the Americans’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina after a video review showed him stepping on the ankle of the defender, Muharemović, triggering what is normally an automatic one-game suspension.

FIFA reversed that suspension on Sunday, citing Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which allows the “implementation of the automatic match suspension” to be put on hold for a one-year probationary period.

The reversal came after reports that U.S. President Donald Trump personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino asking the organization to review the ban, with U.S. officials reportedly presenting “additional evidence” focused on the replay used to issue the red card.

Trump publicly thanked FIFA for the decision on Truth Social, while Belgium’s federation said it was “astonished,” arguing the ruling directly contradicts Article 66.4 of FIFA’s own disciplinary code as well as Article 10.5 of the World Cup 2026 competition regulations, both of which state that a red card automatically triggers a suspension for the next match.

The RBFA said it had still not received FIFA’s written decision or an explanation despite requesting one, and said it had “no choice but to challenge the player’s eligibility” for the match.

FIFA has reportedly granted Belgium the right to appeal, with submissions due from both federations and a member of FIFA’s appeals committee; someone unaffiliated with FIFA, UEFA, or CONCACAF set to hear the case, possibly just hours before kickoff.

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia likened the timing to “April Fools’,” while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said the team would have preferred more time to prepare mentally.

UEFA also weighed in critically, saying the decision undermines “the integrity of the game” and calling it “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”

The move appears to be only the second time in World Cup history that a red-card suspension has been lifted, the first being Brazil’s Garrincha ahead of the 1962 final.