Belgium want FIFA to explain Balogun reversal, challenge USMNT striker’s eligibilityplayFIFA’s Balogun suspension decision has caused uproar (2:09)Rob DawsonJul 6, 2026, 09:38 AM ETMultiple Authors
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The Belgian federation wants explanation from FIFA about a decision to let United States forward Folarin Balogun play in their World Cup match on Monday despite receiving a red card in his previous game against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
On Sunday, FIFA unveiled Balogun would be allowed to play for the U.S. against Belgium after suspending his red card and the resulting one-match ban, an extraordinary move that triggered praise from U.S. President Donald Trump and outrage from Belgium’s team.
It appeared to be the first time since 1962 that a red card during a World Cup didn’t result in a suspension.
The decision prompted a furious response from the Belgium FA [RBFA] in a lengthy statement. It did not specify where it intends to appeal FIFA’s decision.
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And in a second statement issued on Monday morning — just hours before the round-of-16 tie between the U.S. and Belgium was due to kick off in Seattle — the RBFA demanded more information about how the decision has been reached and denied reports FIFA had allowed Belgium to appeal.
The statement read: “After learning through media reports of FIFA’s decision to lift the automatic suspension of player Balogun, the RBFA sent a letter to FIFA requesting a copy of the decision, an explanation of the process that had been followed, and setting out its position regarding the 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.
“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.”
In the same statement, the Belgium FA also accused FIFA of doctoring a pre-match presentation to remove the section which informed federations that any player receiving a red card would face an automatic one-match ban.
They mentioned FIFA’s decision and a lack of clarity about how it was reached had given them no choice but to “challenge the player’s eligibility for the upcoming match.”
The statement continued: “During the match coordination meeting, FIFA deliberately removed the section concerning the automatic suspension of players from its presentation.
“This topic had nonetheless been part of all such meetings before each of the previous four matches. The RBFA questioned FIFA, both orally and in writing, about the reasons for this change, yet once again received no response.
“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.
“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.”
The fall-out from FIFA’s decision on Sunday included Belgium coach Rudi Garcia telling a news conference that “I didn’t know that at the World Cup, the 5th of July is actually the first of April — it’s April Fools’.”
In a statement issued by UEFA on Monday, the European governing body mentioned the decision had “crossed a red line” and expressed “disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.”
Meanwhile, sources told ABC news that Donald Trump and FIFA president had a conversation about Balogun’s red card before the U.S. forward was cleared to play against Belgium.
On Monday in a media briefing, Trump mentioned of the Balogun red-card reversal: “I saw the play, and I’m a person that loves sports … that wasn’t a foul. That wasn’t even an infraction … this referee, who is a little bit suspect if you check his past. He made a call that nobody could believe … he’s our best player, or one of our best players. And he gave him a red card. I didn’t know what that meant … yes, I asked for a review by FIFA. [Balogun] didn’t do anything wrong, and he’s our best player or one of our best players.”
Trump celebrated the FIFA’s decision once it was made public on Sunday, posting on his social media network: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!”
A U.S. official mentioned: “The president and Infantino did speak, and the president wanted to better understand the reason why a red card was given and why there was a suspension. “The appeal process is run by an independent board. “The U.S. government provided additional evidence that was used in the appeal process. Ultimately the correct and proper outcome was achieved.”
Belgium take on the USMNT later Monday for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Balogun, the U.S. star with three goals in the tournament, received a red card for stepping awkwardly on the right ankle of Tarik Muharemović of Bosnia-Herzegovina in a 2-0 round-of-32 win on Wednesday, triggering an automatic one-game suspension.
Information from the Associated Press and ABC News contributed to this report.
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