The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has expressed shock over FIFA’s decision to make suspended United States forward Folarin Balogun eligible for their World Cup clash on Monday, July 6.
In a statement, the RBFA said it was “astonished” by the ruling, which allows Balogun to play despite what it describes as an automatic suspension following a red card.
FIFA defended its position, citing Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, which allows the Disciplinary Committee to suspend the enforcement of sanctions. Belgium, however, argues this conflicts with other rules.
The RBFA pointed to Article 66.4, which states that a red card leads to an automatic suspension for the next match. It also cited Article 10.5 of the World Cup 2026 regulations, which says any player sent off must miss the following game.
Belgium added that the rule has been consistently applied throughout the tournament and reinforced in FIFA Circular No. 16, issued to all teams on May 12, 2026, as well as in official tournament briefings.
“To safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and protect the principles of fair play, the RBFA is exploring all possible options,” the statement said.
The ruling has added controversy ahead of the knockout tie between Belgium and the United States, with attention now on whether Belgium will launch a formal protest.
