Belgium has been granted the right to appeal FIFA’s decision to overturn the suspension of U.S. striker Folarin Balogun just days before their World Cup round of 16 clash.
The Belgian federation argues that the governing body is creating unnecessary red tape and has voiced its displeasure with the reversal, which was prompted by a request from U.S. President Donald Trump to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Political dimensions of the dispute
Coach Rudi Garcia of the Belgian national team criticized the move, saying, “We’re defending football,” underscoring the nation’s resolve to contest the ruling.
Balogun, who leads the United States in scoring with three goals in this tournament, could be a decisive factor in the match, adding extra weight to the appeal.
In a detailed statement, the Royal Belgium Football Association (RBFA) outlined the sequence of events that led to the appeal and claimed that FIFA had removed a clause concerning the automatic suspension of players from the meeting agenda, a move the RBFA says was never explained.
The RBFA noted that it sought clarification from FIFA but received no response, leaving the matter unresolved ahead of the crucial fixture.