The Royal Belgian Football Association has expressed its deep “astonishment” following FIFA’s sudden decision to overturn the suspension of USMNT striker Folarin Balogun, just ahead of their highly anticipated round-of-16 clash at the 2026 World Cup.
In an extraordinary development on Monday, the automatic one-match ban handed to the American forward was “suspended.” This came after his controversial red card during the United States‘ round-of-32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Although FIFA regulations offer no official route to appeal a direct red card—a point that has drawn widespread criticism—the governing body justified the move by citing Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which states: “The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”
In an official statement, the Belgian FA declared:
“The Association is deeply astonished by FIFA’s decision. In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both in this edition and future tournaments, we are currently investigating all potential legal options.”
Rudi Garcia Furious Over FIFA’s Decision
Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia was left furious, emphasizing that their anger goes far beyond the immediate tactical calculations for the round-of-16 tie.
“We are not defending the national team or the federation here; we are defending football and its integrity,” Garcia stated. “It is the first time in World Cup history that such a decision has been taken.”
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump responded to the decision by praising FIFA for “reversing a great injustice.” However, his comments have raised significant concerns regarding sporting integrity, given his close relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
