‘No Response’—Belgium Clarifies Truth About Folarin Balogun Appeal

FIFA is allowing Belgium to appeal the suspension of the USMNT striker’s red card.

Folarin Balogun still faces an uncertain few hours. | Sarah Stier/FIFA/Getty Images

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) accused FIFA of not playing to its own rules regarding the appeal against the decision to suspend the one-match ban issued to USMNT striker Folarin Balogun after his red card in the World Cup round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

While Balogun was given a red card and an automatic one-game suspension for a challenge on Tarik Muharemović in the 2–0 win, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee opted to suspend his red card for one year, allowing him to serve the suspension at a future date, instead of in the round of 16. 

The adjustment came days after FIFA confirmed that there was no appeal process for a red card in the tournament. That is, until the early hours of Monday morning, when The Athletic reported that FIFA had granted Belgium the right to appeal the decision to suspend Balogun’s ban, less than 20 hours before the two teams are set to play in Seattle. 

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‘FIFA Ensured Appeal Would be Inadmissible’

The RBFA had said was “astonished” by the decision in a statement, wrote to FIFA “requesting a copy of the decision, an explanation of the process that had been followed, and setting out its position regarding the applicable regulations.” The European nation later clarified it was told by FIFA that the written request was considered to constitute an appeal.

With a judge already appointed, the RBFA said it was given “only a few hours” to then complete that appeal, but “no information” was provided by FIFA. Belgium went on to claim that FIFA had made it so any appeal would “inadmissible” by failing to its own processes.

The statement continued: “FIFA’s own regulations state that the reasoned decision must first have been communicated to the appellant. While the RBFA was merely seeking legitimate explanations, FIFA itself created an appeal and immediately ensured that it would be declared inadmissible.”

Regarding a change to the match coordination meeting: “FIFA deliberately removed the section concerning the automatic suspension of players from its presentation. This topic had nonetheless been part of all such meetings before each of the previous four matches. The RBFA questioned FIFA, both orally and in writing, about the reasons for this change, yet once again received no response.

“To be clear, as of this moment, the RBFA has still not received any decision or any explanation from FIFA regarding this matter. It therefore has no alternative but to challenge the player’s eligibility for the upcoming match.”

The FIFA appeals committee, which is made up of 14 representatives, will have an adjudicator unrelated to UEFA or Concacaf, leaving both American Neil Eggleston, the chairperson of the committee, and Swedish representative Thomas Bodström, the deputy chairperson, out of the process. 

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What Is Belgium Looking for With Balogun Appeal?

Folarin Balogun’s status has become the biggest story of the World Cup. | Xu Chang/Xinhua/Getty Images

After an international outcry in support of Belgium, including several UEFA members reportedly aligning with the RBFA, according to Politico, the hope is that a ruling can be issued before the match, which kicks off at 1 a.m. ET. 

Belgium has not been given any assurances that the point would be decided, and if it is not satisfied with the ruling, its elevation to the International Court of Arbitration for Sport would not occur in time for kickoff.

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White House Involvement

Folarin Balogun’s (left) status for Monday’s match shifted after Trump reportedly spoke with FIFA President Gianni Infantino. | Richard Heathcote/Getty Images; Alex Wong/Getty Images

U.S. President Donald Trump and the White House were quick to make their feelings known about Balogun’s red card suspension, with the President posting “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” on Truth Social in the hours after the ruling was announced. FIFA, meanwhile, had not posted the decision on its social media platforms but instead unveiled it in a press release.

According to reports from Politico and the New York Times, Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding Balogun’s red card. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who sat next to Infantino at the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, led the recruitment of lawyers to find a solution to Balogun’s absence in the round of 16. 

Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, was also part of the process, working with lawyers to navigate the star forward’s status. 

According to FIFA’s statutes, participants must abide by political neutrality and political interference is not permitted. Still, questions have arisen regarding Balogun’s case, given the public fondness shown between Trump and Infantino, highlighted by the FIFA Peace Prize awarded in December at the World Cup draw in Washington, D.C.

“Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls,” posted former FIFA President Sepp Blatter, the center of a 2015 corruption case, posted to X. “They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies. If a U.S. President intervenes with the FIFA President—and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match—the question is unavoidable: Quo vadis [Where are you going], FIFA?

“Football must never become a playground for political power.”

Should a new direction on Balogun’s status not be determined before kickoff, the story is likely far from over, as nations across FIFA’s 211 members are expected to push back. At the same time, the USMNT itself embraces its top goalscorer as it hopes to qualify for a second-ever World Cup quarterfinal.

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