Belgian FA 'astonished' by FIFA's decision to lift Balogun's suspension

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has voiced strong astonishment and criticism regarding FIFA's decision to suspend the one-match ban for American striker Folarin Balogun. Balogun, who received a red card, will now be eligible to play in the World Cup round of 16 match between the US and Belgium in Seattle on Monday.

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The decision directly contradicts the provisions of the Competition Regulations.

The Belgian federation stated that FIFA's decision directly contradicts the provisions of the Competition Regulations. They highlighted that Article 66.4 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code clearly stipulates that a direct red card automatically results in a suspension for the team's next match, a rule consistently applied to all previous red cards in the tournament.

Furthermore, the RBFA pointed to Article 10.5 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations, which also states that a player receiving a direct or indirect red card is automatically suspended for the subsequent match, with the possibility of additional sanctions.

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Article 66.4 of the same FIFA Disciplinary Code clearly establishes that a red card (expulsion) automatically entails suspension for the next match of the team, as happened with all red cards shown previously during this World Cup.

In a detailed statement, the RBFA expressed its bewilderment at FIFA's decision to allow a suspended player to participate. The federation emphasized that its stance is not just about defending itself or the national team, but about protecting the integrity and ethics of football in general, both in the current World Cup and in future editions.

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If a player or member of the technical staff is expelled as a consequence of a direct or indirect red card (second yellow card), they shall automatically be suspended from their team's next match. Furthermore, additional sanctions may be imposed.

The RBFA is currently exploring all available options to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and uphold the fundamental principles of fair play in the sport.

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The RBFA is astonished by FIFA's decision to declare the suspended American player Balogun eligible to play in the United States-Belgium match this Monday, July 6.