Belgium has appealed against FIFA’s decision to suspend the one-game ban handed to Folarin Balogun, less than 24 hours out from the team’s round of 16 game against the United States.
Despite being dismissed against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the USMNT striker is now available to face Belgium in the round of 16 on Monday night after an intervention involving U.S. President Donald Trump, government officials, U.S. Soccer and an extensive legal team.
In a statement – released Monday, after The Athletic exclusively revealed that Belgium had the right to appeal the decision – the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) confirmed it had “no alternative but to challenge (Balogun’s) eligibility for the upcoming match”.
The RBFA said it had learned of the change in Balogun’s circumstances through media reports and written to FIFA to request a full explanation of “the process” and “applicable regulations”.
“As its only response, FIFA sent a letter to the RBFA stating that it considered this correspondence to constitute an appeal, that a judge had been appointed, and that the RBFA had only a few hours to complete that appeal. No information whatsoever was provided by FIFA,” the RBFA statement continued.
“For an appeal to be admissible, FIFA’s own regulations state that the reasoned decision must first have been communicated to the appellant. While the RBFA was merely seeking legitimate explanations, FIFA itself created an appeal and immediately ensured that it would be declared inadmissible.
“All of this occurred while FIFA simultaneously refused to respond to the RBFA’s legitimate requests … To be clear, as of this moment, the RBFA has still not received any decision or any explanation from FIFA regarding this matter. It therefore has no alternative but to challenge the player’s eligibility for the upcoming match.”
Sources briefed on the matter, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, have now told The Athletic that both U.S. Soccer and the Belgian federation were asked to make submissions by 5am PST on Monday morning, which has exasperated the Belgians who have not received the decision by FIFA to review, as it is not made public.
A member of the FIFA appeals committee – who does not represent a federation in either UEFA or CONCACAF, so as to avoid any potential conflict of interest – has been selected to hear the case.
Submissions must now be made by Monday morning, with a ruling possible before the game, but Belgium have not been provided with any guarantees by FIFA that this will be the case. It would be extraordinary at this stage if FIFA were to change their position for a second time, with Balogun under a one game ban between Wednesday night until Sunday morning, until FIFA suddenly suspended the one match ban. It is unclear whether the appeal is merely procedural or if it has a genuine chance of moving the goalposts once more ahead of a huge knockout game at a World Cup.
The Athletic had already reported that Belgium has requested the full rationale behind the decision to lift Balogun’s suspension, as well as the report from FIFA’s refereeing body. FIFA’s disciplinary committee can decide against sharing its rationale.
FIFA has been approached for comment. The USMNT’s last-16 tie against Belgium kicks off at 5pm PT (8pm ET) at Lumen Field in Seattle on Monday, with Balogun currently permitted to play.
The RBFA also alleged that FIFA “deliberately removed the section concerning the automatic suspension of players from its (pre-match) presentation” and said it had “questioned FIFA, both orally and in writing, about the reasons for this change, yet once again received no response”.
Belgium’s statement concluded: “Regardless of the sporting outcome of this match, the RBFA is deeply concerned by the course of events and will continue to fight in the coming hours, days and months in defence of the fundamental principles of ethics, fair competition, and the interests of football as a whole.”
Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia joked that he wondered if the whole situation was an April Fools prank before pointing to the questions now being raised by many observers about the integrity of FIFA’s competition.
“The Belgian federation isn’t just defending itself or the national team; it’s defending football in general — its integrity and its ethics,” Garcia added in a news conference Sunday.
“As far as I recall, I think this is the first time in World Cup history that a decision like this has been made. Anyway, I’m the coach, so I’m going to focus on my team and the match — it doesn’t matter who makes up the USA’s starting lineup. What matters to me is the pitch, my team, winning, and reaching the quarterfinals.”
Following The Athletic’s exclusive story, a New York Times report stated that Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino in the wake of Wednesday’s game to ask for a review into Balogun’s suspension.
A source familiar with the situation confirmed to The Athletic that a call did take place.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump posted on Truth Social after the news had broken.
Trump’s role in the suspension being overturned is under scrutiny. (Mandel Ngan / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
Balogun has started in all but one game for the U.S., scoring twice in the team’s opener against Paraguay. He was rested in the dead-rubber final group game against Turkey before returning to score in the first half against Bosnia.
Balogun’s U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino defended FIFA’s decision and was adamant justice had been done after a red card he believed should never have been shown.
“For me, there isn’t much debate here, though I do understand Belgium’s perspective and Rudi’s point of view,” Pochettino told reporters. “I understand why people conflate issues — people always do, because there’s often an agenda to mix things up — but in this case, I don’t think it’s right.
“If anyone was harmed in this whole situation, it was the United States. Can anyone justify the idea that we weren’t punished? I mean, playing 30 or 35 minutes a man down in a World Cup knockout match? It’s not as if we’re benefiting. No, no. There’s no extraordinary gain we’re getting out of all this. I mean, ultimately, we aren’t victims, but we aren’t the villains of this story either.”
