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Belgian Coach: FIFA's Decision on Balogun Suspension is an 'April Fools' Joke'
🇩🇰 Denmark /Sports

Belgian Coach: FIFA's Decision on Balogun Suspension is an 'April Fools' Joke'

From Berlingske · () Danish

Translated from Danish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Belgium's national team coach, Rudi Garcia, expressed disbelief at FIFA's decision to make a player's suspension conditional.
  • The conditional suspension allows USA's Folarin Balogun to play against Belgium in a World Cup match, a decision Garcia likened to an April Fools' joke.
  • Despite the surprise, Garcia stated he would focus on his own team's preparation, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois noted the short notice impacts mental preparation.

Belgium's national team coach, Rudi Garcia, reacted with astonishment to FIFA's decision to make a suspension conditional for USA's striker Folarin Balogun. The ruling means Balogun, who has scored three goals for the USA in the World Cup, will be eligible to play against Belgium in their upcoming knockout stage match.

It must be an April Fools' joke. I didn't know that July 5th at FIFA's World Cup has now become April 1st – the day for April Fools' jokes. It's new to me.

— Rudi GarciaBelgium's national team coach commenting on FIFA's decision to make Folarin Balogun's suspension conditional.

"It must be an April Fools' joke," Garcia stated at a press conference, expressing his disbelief at the timing of FIFA's decision. "I didn't know that July 5th at FIFA's World Cup has now become April 1st – the day for April Fools' jokes. It's new to me." Despite his surprise, Garcia emphasized that the decision would not significantly alter his team's preparation, stating, "I will focus on my own team, regardless of which 11 players start for the USA."

I will focus on my own team, regardless of which 11 players start for the USA.

— Rudi GarciaBelgium's coach stating his team's preparation will not be significantly altered by the decision.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois echoed Garcia's sentiments, highlighting the limited time Belgium has to prepare for Balogun's presence. "It's a bit surprising that it comes the day before the match. If it had happened earlier, we would have had more time to prepare mentally," Courtois said. The Belgian Football Association has also expressed its bewilderment and intends to investigate the change in Balogun's suspension.

It's a bit surprising that it comes the day before the match. If it had happened earlier, we would have had more time to prepare mentally.

— Thibaut CourtoisBelgium's goalkeeper expressing concern about the timing of the ruling.

Balogun received a red card in the USA's previous match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, a decision that had initially caused an uproar in the American camp. Notably, former US President Donald Trump publicly thanked FIFA for overturning the suspension, calling it "the right thing" and "a great injustice" undone. The match between USA and Belgium is scheduled for early Tuesday morning, Danish time, in Seattle.

Thank you to FIFA for doing the right thing and overturning a great injustice.

— Donald TrumpFormer US President reacting to FIFA's decision on Folarin Balogun's suspension.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Berlingske in Danish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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