Belgium Appeals FIFA’s Decision on Balogun’s Suspension

Belgium has been given the right to contest FIFA’s recent reversal of U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s suspension. The appeal comes just hours before the World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium. According to The Athletic, both the Belgian soccer federation and U.S. Soccer were asked to present their cases to the FIFA appeals committee by 8 a.m. ET on Monday, July 6. A decision could be made before the scheduled kickoff at 8 p.m. ET, though Belgium has no assurance of this timing.

Balogun’s red card was issued during the USA’s victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. His suspension was initially imposed but later overturned on Sunday after a request from President Donald Trump to FIFA president Gianni Infantino. This decision left the Belgian federation astonished, particularly regarding the suspension’s one-year deferral.

Belgium’s coach, Rudi Garcia, voiced his dissatisfaction during a press session on Sunday. Using FIFA’s interpreting app, he sarcastically remarked, “I thought the World Cup was in July, not April. It’s now April Fools. We’re not defending the national team or the federation. We’re defending football.” The Belgian team previously requested an explanation for the sudden reversal, but FIFA’s disciplinary committee is not obligated to disclose such details.

Balogun, with three goals in this World Cup, remains the USA’s leading scorer, significantly enhancing the American team’s prospects for progressing to the quarterfinals.