FIFA's Balogun affair: Belgian federation 'deeply concerned' as FIFA digs deeper

The Belgian football federation is deeply concerned by FIFA's handling of Folarin Balogun's suspension case, calling the world governing body's actions "astonishing" and "incomprehensible."

Balogun, a forward for the US national team and AS Monaco, was suspended for the World Cup match against Belgium after being red-carded during the US victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina. However, FIFA intervened, suspending the suspension and allowing Balogun to play.

The Belgian FA stated it learned of FIFA's decision through the press and requested clarification on the procedure. FIFA's response was unexpected: it considered the federation's request for information an "appeal" and appointed a judge, giving Belgium only a few hours to formalize this appeal. FIFA provided no further details.

This situation has caused significant controversy, particularly in Belgium. The Belgian FA highlighted that FIFA deliberately omitted the automatic player suspension section from its match coordination meeting presentation, a standard agenda item in previous matches. The federation has yet to receive any official decision or explanation from FIFA regarding the matter. Consequently, the Belgian FA stated it has no choice but to contest the player's eligibility for the upcoming match.