Belgium are making big moves after FIFA lifted Folarin Balogun’s suspension.
Belgium is getting ready to play the United States in the World Cup round of 16. At first, it looked like the U.S. would be without Folarin Balogun because he got a red card in their match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. But now, that suspension has been put on hold.
FIFA used a special rule to let Balogun play in this important game. This is a big chance for the U.S. to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2002. However, the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) isn’t happy about FIFA’s decision to delay Balogun’s suspension.
Balogun has been a key player for coach Mauricio Pochettino’s team, scoring three goals in this World Cup, which helped the U.S. get this far. If he hadn’t played, it might have made a big difference in the U.S. win against Belgium. The RBFA even released a statement to protest FIFA’s choice and hinted they might take strong action.
In their statement, they said they were surprised by FIFA allowing Balogun to play. They pointed to two rules: Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which allows suspensions to be delayed, and Article 66.4, which says a red card means an automatic suspension for the next match. They also mentioned the World Cup 2026 Competition Rules that clearly state any player sent off must miss the next game.
The RBFA stressed that these rules have been clearly shared with all teams and mentioned during meetings and workshops before the tournament. To keep things fair for all teams, the RBFA is looking into all possible options to challenge this decision.
It’s unlikely FIFA will change their mind before the Belgium vs. U.S. game, which is set for July 7 at 1 a.m. BST.