FIFA Rejects Belgium's Protest, Balogun Cleared for World Cup Clash

FIFA has denied Belgium's appeal concerning Folarin Balogun's eligibility for the upcoming 2026 World Cup Round of 16 match between the US and Belgium. The Belgian Football Association (RBFA) had protested the decision to suspend Balogun's one-match ban, which was imposed after he received a straight red card for stepping on an opponent's ankle during a group stage game.

Balogun, who has scored three goals in the tournament, was initially set to miss the match. However, FIFA's disciplinary committee suspended the ban, allowing the US forward to participate. This decision prompted Belgium to question the legal basis for overturning the sanction, especially amid reports of a phone call from then-US President Donald Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding the suspension.

“

No provision in the FIFA Disciplinary Code or the FIFA World Cup 2026 Regulations prohibits the FIFA Disciplinary Committee from exercising its authority under Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

FIFA, in its official statements, maintained that the disciplinary committee acted within its authority according to Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and the 2026 World Cup Regulations. The organization further clarified that the RBFA's appeal was inadmissible because Belgium was not a party to the disciplinary proceedings and therefore lacked the legal standing to appeal the decision. The FIFA Appeals Committee's chairman, Neil Eggleston, was also confirmed not to have been involved in the initial decision-making process.

“

The appeal is declared inadmissible because the RBFA is not a party to the disciplinary proceedings and therefore does not have the legal standing to appeal the decision.