FIFA made their decision.
However, Belgium were not consulted.
And now they’re furious.
Belgian FA release official statement slamming FIFA’s Balogun decision
According to the RBFA, the Royal Belgian Football Association has formally registered its opposition to FIFA’s unprecedented move, publishing a detailed legal argument outlining why they believe the decision to suspend Balogun’s one-match ban directly contradicts the governing body’s own rules.
Their statement was unequivocal.
“The Royal Belgian Football Association astonished by FIFA’s decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun.”
However, the RBFA went further, laying out their legal case in full.
FIFA based its decision on Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
Which grants the Disciplinary Committee the power to suspend the enforcement of a previously imposed sanction.
Belgium countered with Article 66.4 of the same code.
Which states clearly that a red card automatically results in a suspension for the team’s subsequent match.
As has been the case for every other red card issued throughout this World Cup.
The RBFA also pointed to Article 10.5 of the 2026 World Cup Competition Regulations.
Also, to World Cup Circular No. 16, distributed to all federations on May 12, 2026, which reiterated the same rule.
However, every other player who received a red card at this World Cup served their suspension automatically.
Yet, no exceptions were made.
Until now.
Therefore, the political dimension only intensifies the controversy.
Trump himself celebrated the outcome on Truth Social, writing: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!”
For Belgium, the message is clear.
They believe a rule that applied to every other team at this tournament has been bent.
Thus, the RBFA has stated it is investigating all potential options.
Whether those options include a formal protest or legal challenge will become clearer in the hours before Monday’s kickoff in Seattle.
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