FIFA has dismissed Belgium's challenge over the eligibility of United States forward Folarin Balogun, ruling that the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) was not a party to the proceedings and therefore had no standing to appeal. The decision comes ahead of a FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash between the two sides.
FIFA Appeals Committee Ruling
In a statement reported by The Athletic, FIFA's Appeals Committee declared the RBFA's request "inadmissible." The committee stated that the Belgian federation "is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision."
The RBFA acknowledged the ruling and said it was considering "further actions" available to the federation, according to The Athletic.
Background of the Suspension
The controversy stems from Balogun's red card in the 64th minute of the United States' 2-0 Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Under standard FIFA rules, a red card would trigger an automatic one-match suspension.
However, FIFA announced that the implementation of Balogun's automatic suspension had been suspended under Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. This followed an intervention by US President Donald Trump, who urged FIFA to review the case.
Trump's Intervention
Trump said he spoke with FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of the red card. In remarks reported by C-SPAN, Trump stated: "I spoke to Gianni who's highly respected. That wasn't a foul, that wasn't even an infraction, that was two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other... I asked for a review because I didn't think it was a foul."
FIFA's Disciplinary Committee confirmed the suspension was suspended for a probationary period of one year. The committee said: "By operation of Article 27 FDC, the implementation of the automatic match suspension for USA player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year."
Impact on the World Cup Match
The decision means Balogun is eligible to play in the upcoming Round of 16 match between the United States and Belgium. The US team considers Balogun a vital player, and his availability could significantly influence the outcome of the contest.
