FIFA announced on Monday that it had rejected Belgium’s appeal against the decision to suspend US striker Folarin Balogun’s World Cup ban, declaring the request inadmissible.
In a statement, FIFA said: The FIFA Appeal Committee has rendered a request submitted by the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) as inadmissible in relation to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision to suspend for one year the match suspension imposed on United States national-team player Folarin Balogun.
Belgium, who had contested the ruling, are set to face co-hosts USA in the round of 16 on July 7.
Balogun, who represents both Nigerian and American heritage, had initially been ruled out of Monday’s knockout match after being shown a straight red card for stepping on Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic during the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the last 32.
However, FIFA suspended his automatic one-match ban, making him eligible for the last-16 clash with Belgium. The governing body specified that, in accordance with Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the suspension would be deferred for a probationary period of one year.
The decision sparked a mixed reaction. US President Donald Trump on Sunday thanked FIFA for allowing Balogun to play, while European football’s governing body UEFA criticized the move, saying FIFA had crossed a red line.
Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp also condemned the decision, stating: It’s a red card… It’s there in the rules. This is our game, not theirs. If Trump and Infantino really worked this all out between themselves, that’s crazy. It calls everything into question… These two individuals, neither of whom has a clue about football, shouldn’t have anything to do with it.
