Belgium’s soccer federation is issuing a warning to the United States after Folarin Balogun was cleared to play Monday’s Round of 16 World Cup match.
Balogun was issued a red card in the Round of 32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, which made him ineligible to play the following match. FIFA suspended the one-game ban Sunday after US president Donald Trump intervened alongside government officials, US Soccer and a legal team.
The Royal Belgian Football Association appealed the decision, which FIFA dismissed Monday.
“To date, the RBFA has still not received any grounds for this decision, nor has it received the information it has been requesting since the start of this procedure for a copy of this decision and the motivation declaring the player eligible as well as the referee’s report,” the Belgian body said in a statement. “Which is a breach of FIFA regulations.
“The RBFA has informed the United States Soccer Federation that it contests the eligibility of the player, should the player be listed on the referee’s team sheet. This leaves all further actions open.”
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Upon suspending Balogun’s initial ban, FIFA cited Article 27 of its discipline code, which gives its judicial bodies the power to fully or partially suspend a disciplinary sanction and put a probation period in place instead.
Questions have been raised about the integrity of FIFA’s decision, especially after news of Trump’s involvement in the process. A report from the New York Times stated that President Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of Balogun’s suspension.
The US and Belgium face off Monday night at 8 pm ET at Seattle Stadium.
