One day before its match against host nation the United States, Belgium received news that FIFA had postponed the automatic one-match suspension of forward Folarin Balogun. The 25-year-old player received a direct red card for stepping on an opponent's ankle during the round of 16 match against Bosnia & Herzegovina. This incident sparked debate over referee consistency at the tournament and was compared to a similar play by Lionel Messi in the opening match against Algeria, which went unpunished.

According to The New York Times (NYT), on 2/7, US President Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of Balogun's suspension. The disciplinary regulations for the 2026 World Cup do not permit national teams to appeal match bans resulting from card offenses. However, FIFA cited Article 27 to postpone the enforcement of Balogun's suspension.

US forward Folarin Balogun (20) fouls Tarik Muharemovic (4) during the US vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina round of 16 match at the 2026 World Cup, held at the San Francisco Bay Area stadium in the US, on 1/7. Photo: AP

FIFA's decision "astonished" the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA). They contend that FIFA's ruling contradicts Article 66.4 of the Disciplinary Regulations and Article 10.5 of the 2026 World Cup Statutes.

By the afternoon of 6/7 (Hanoi time), the NYT reported that the RBFA had submitted an appeal to FIFA. Hours later, the RBFA issued a second statement explaining its reasons for the appeal and condemning FIFA for violating the principle of fair competition.

Initially, the RBFA learned of Balogun's postponed suspension through media reports. As a party directly affected by the decision, they immediately sent a letter to FIFA requesting a copy of the decision, an explanation of the process, and clarification of FIFA's stance on the applicable regulations.

FIFA's only response was to treat this letter as an appeal. A judge was appointed, and the RBFA was given only a few hours to complete the appeal form. Meanwhile, the RBFA's initial aim was to seek a justified explanation, which was denied. "FIFA itself created an appeal and immediately ensured it would be declared invalid," read the RBFA's statement. "FIFA regulations clearly state that reasoned decisions must be communicated to the appellant beforehand."

Match developments from the US victory over Bosnia & Herzegovina in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

The RBFA also highlighted an incident at the technical meeting before the match against the United States. A FIFA supervisor intentionally removed the section concerning automatic player suspensions, a topic that had been covered in all four of Belgium's previous matches. "We questioned FIFA, both verbally and in writing, about the reason for this change. But once again, we received no answer," the RBFA stated.

Without receiving a decision or explanation, the Belgian football governing body affirmed it had "no other option" but to challenge Folarin Balogun's eligibility. They declared their intention to pursue the matter to the end. The RBFA stated: "Regardless of the outcome of the match between Belgium and the United States, we remain deeply concerned by these developments and will continue to fight in the coming hours, days, and months to protect the fundamental principles of ethics, fair competition, and the common good of football."

FIFA has accepted the appeal but has not confirmed whether a decision will be made before the match, scheduled for 7h on 7/7 (Hanoi time).

Trung Thu