Belgium Accuses FIFA Of Altering Rules As Balogun Red-Card Appeal Row Deepens

Last Updated:July 06, 2026, 23:08 IST

Belgium's football federation challenged FIFA's decision to allow US forward Folarin Balogun to play in the World Cup Round of 16, alleging FIFA removed automatic suspension rules.

Belgium’s football federation has formally challenged FIFA’s decision to make United States forward Folarin Balogun eligible for the World Cup Round of 16 clash, accusing the governing body of quietly removing references to automatic suspensions from its pre-match briefing and failing to explain its actions.

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it had ‘no alternative’ but to contest Balogun’s eligibility after FIFA suspended the implementation of his automatic one-match ban, allowing him to feature against Belgium despite his straight red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In a strongly worded statement, the RBFA alleged that FIFA had ‘deliberately removed’ the section covering automatic suspensions for red cards from its tournament presentation, despite the provision featuring in the briefings before Belgium’s previous four matches. The federation added that repeated requests for clarification, made both verbally and in writing, went unanswered.

Belgium was subsequently informed that its correspondence had been treated as a formal appeal. FIFA appointed an Appeals Committee judge and ordered both parties to submit their arguments within hours, ahead of Monday’s hearing.

The RBFA criticised the process, arguing that FIFA had never shared the reasoned decision behind Balogun’s reprieve, even though its own regulations require that such reasoning be communicated before an appeal can proceed.

“While the RBFA was merely seeking legitimate explanations, FIFA itself created an appeal and immediately ensured that it would be declared inadmissible," the federation said.

Belgium has maintained that it is pursuing the matter to protect “the legitimate rights of all participating teams" and uphold the principles of fair play at both this World Cup and future tournaments.

Head coach Rudi Garcia also questioned FIFA’s handling of the case, quipping: “I didn’t know that July 5 was equal to April 1 at FIFA."

The controversy has intensified after reports confirmed that US President Donald Trump made multiple calls to FIFA president Gianni Infantino following Balogun’s dismissal, urging a review of the decision. FIFA subsequently invoked Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code to suspend the implementation of the striker’s one-match ban, making him available for the knockout tie.

News sports football Belgium Accuses FIFA Of Altering Rules As Balogun Red-Card Appeal Row Deepens

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