Belgian appeal rejected in Balogun case for lack of standing

FIFA's Appeals Committee has dismissed a request from the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) regarding the case of player Folarin Balogun. The committee concluded that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and therefore lacks the legitimacy to appeal the decision.

The RBFA had submitted a request concerning the FIFA Disciplinary Committee's decision to suspend a one-year match ban imposed on U.S. national team player Folarin Balogun. Balogun received a direct red card during the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which took place on July 1, 2026, at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.

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The Appeals Committee of FIFA has dismissed a request presented by the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) regarding the Balogun case, considering that it is not a party to the procedure and, therefore, lacks the legitimacy to appeal the decision.

According to FIFA, the request was declared inadmissible because the RBFA is not considered a party in the procedure. Consequently, they do not have the legal standing to challenge the ruling. The statement also noted that the president of the Appeals Committee, Neil Eggleston, an American, did not participate in this decision.

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The request was declared inadmissible considering that the RBFA is not a party to the procedure and, therefore, lacks the legitimacy to appeal the decision.