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Folarin Balogun
Credit: John Todd/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
Belgium is appealing the decision to let Folarin Balogun play
The star striker was sent off last week during the round of 32 game against Bosnia and Herzegovina
On Sunday, FIFA reversed Balogun’s suspension, after President Donald Trump appealed on the team’s behalf
Belgium will have the right to appeal the controversial decision that saw FIFA reverse U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s one-game suspension, making him eligible to play in the round of 16 clash between countries on Monday, July 6.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said in a statement obtained by The Athletic that it “has no alternative but to challenge” Balogun’s “eligibility for the upcoming match.”
An independent member of the FIFA appeals committee has been selected to hear the case, and a ruling is possible before the game is set to begin on Monday at 8 p.m. ET., according to USA Today.
The news comes one day after the World Cup’s disciplinary committee overturned Balogun’s red card suspension, which came during the round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, July 1.
President Donald Trump was among those who intervened on the team’s behalf, and called FIFA President Gianni Infantino last week to ask that FIFA review Balogun’s red card, according to ABC News.
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Belgium coach Rudi Garcia
Credit: BRUNO FAHY / BELGA MAG / Belga / AFP via Getty
Balogun was ejected from the game during the 64th minute after he got tangled up with Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic after seemingly inadvertently stepping on his ankle. Balogun was sent off and was handed a one-game suspension.
Multiple FIFA officials previously said that the United States Men’s National Team could not appeal the red card or suspension. One official did say, however, that all red cards are “automatically referred to FIFA’s independent disciplinary committee for assessment,” per The Athletic.
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The star forward’s ejection riled fans — including a wide swath of pro athletes who couldn’t believe the call.
So too, Belgium’s coach Rudi Garcia, who shared his perspective on the ongoing controversy in a news conference on Sunday, July 5.
“I didn’t know that at the World Cup, the 5th of July is actually the first of April — it’s April Fools’ [Day],” Garcia said.
He added, “We’re not defending the national team or federation. We are defending football.”
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