Belgium ‘astonished’ by FIFA’s decision to wipe Folarin Balogun’s

Belgium has publicly expressed its astonishment after FIFA unexpectedly suspended Folarin Balogun's one-match suspension ahead of their critical World Cup last-16 clash. The United States striker, who was controversially sent off in his team's round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, is now eligible to play in the upcoming match against Belgium on July 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. (Seattle time).

The decision to suspend Balogun's ban was made on Monday, a move described as extraordinary given the circumstances surrounding his red card. FIFA's regulations did not provide a formal process for appealing the decision, leading to criticisms about the lack of transparency in their disciplinary procedures. FIFA justified its action by citing Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which permits the judicial body to fully or partially suspend a disciplinary measure.

U.S. President Donald Trump praised FIFA for what he called a reversal of a "great injustice," raising eyebrows regarding the implications of his close ties with FIFA President Gianni Infantino on the integrity of the decision-making process.

Image

In response to FIFA's ruling, the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) issued a statement expressing their disbelief. "The RBFA is astonished by FIFA’s decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play in the USA–Belgium match," the statement read. The association highlighted a direct contradiction within FIFA's own disciplinary code. While Article 27 allows for the suspension of disciplinary actions, Article 66.4 explicitly states that a red card automatically leads to a suspension for the player's next match. This has been consistently applied throughout the tournament thus far.

Moreover, the decision contradicts the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations outlined in Article 10.5, which asserts that any player sent off due to a red card will automatically be suspended from their team's next match. The RBFA pointed out that this automatic suspension rule has been reiterated during FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Coordination Meetings and included in workshop presentations to all participating associations.

This development raises questions about FIFA's adherence to its regulations and the implications for fair play in the tournament. The RBFA stated that they are exploring all potential options to address the situation and protect the integrity of the competition. This incident echoes previous controversies, such as those involving Cristiano Ronaldo, whose suspensions were similarly suspended, allowing him to participate in the World Cup.

Furthermore, FIFA's decision may have been influenced by prior incidents during the tournament, notably when Lionel Messi avoided a red card for a comparable foul in Argentina's match against Algeria. As the World Cup progresses, the integrity of the tournament may continue to be scrutinized following this surprising turn of events.

---

Related Articles

1. Donald Trump: Việc đình chỉ Folarin Balogun sẽ để lại 'vết nhơ lớn'
2. Rudi García critica la decisión de la FIFA sobre Balogun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this matter now?

This World Cup update affects fans, teams, and the wider season picture — read above for the full breakdown.

What happens next?

Stay tuned for official updates and follow our coverage for the latest developments.