- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,194,196
- Reaction score
- 59
Belgium's got jokes!
The Red Devils clapped back at the United States after winning the World Cup round of 16 match 4-1 on Monday, July 6 at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Moments after the final whistle, the Belgium national team posted photos on social media of Romelu Lukaku holding a hand to his ear and celebrating with teammate Timothy Castagne after scoring his late goal in the match. The images came with a witty caption.
"Overturn this," the post said on Instagram and X.
The team is referring to FIFA overturning Folarin Balogun's red card the day before the match. Balogun was booked for the penalty in the United States' round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The punishment for a red card is that the player is ejected and then suspended for the team's next match.
However, because FIFA rescinded the red card, Balogun, who was the United States' leading scorer with three goals in the tournament, was allowed to play.
The organization's decision was met with fierce criticism. The Royal Belgian Football Association decried the ruling, saying they were "astonished" to hear the news. Red Devils manager Rudi Garcia compared the motion to April Fool's. UEFA, the governing body of European football, also expressed concern that the integrity of the game was at risk, saying they were in "disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision."
FIFA denied Belgium's appeal to have the decision reviewed.
The controversy around the red card being overturned was heightened when it was revealed that United States president Donald Trumpcontacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino to discuss the matter.
The game was a rematch of the 2014 World Cup round of 16 where Belgium beat the United States 2-1. All three goals were scored in extra time and USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard had a World Cup record 16 saves.
Belgium will now face Spain on Friday, July 10 in the World Cup quarterfinals. Belgium had its best finish, third place, in the 2018 tournament.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Belgium claps back at USA and Folarin Balogun's red card after World Cup win
Continue reading...
The Red Devils clapped back at the United States after winning the World Cup round of 16 match 4-1 on Monday, July 6 at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Moments after the final whistle, the Belgium national team posted photos on social media of Romelu Lukaku holding a hand to his ear and celebrating with teammate Timothy Castagne after scoring his late goal in the match. The images came with a witty caption.
"Overturn this," the post said on Instagram and X.
The team is referring to FIFA overturning Folarin Balogun's red card the day before the match. Balogun was booked for the penalty in the United States' round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The punishment for a red card is that the player is ejected and then suspended for the team's next match.
However, because FIFA rescinded the red card, Balogun, who was the United States' leading scorer with three goals in the tournament, was allowed to play.
The organization's decision was met with fierce criticism. The Royal Belgian Football Association decried the ruling, saying they were "astonished" to hear the news. Red Devils manager Rudi Garcia compared the motion to April Fool's. UEFA, the governing body of European football, also expressed concern that the integrity of the game was at risk, saying they were in "disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision."
FIFA denied Belgium's appeal to have the decision reviewed.
The controversy around the red card being overturned was heightened when it was revealed that United States president Donald Trumpcontacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino to discuss the matter.
The game was a rematch of the 2014 World Cup round of 16 where Belgium beat the United States 2-1. All three goals were scored in extra time and USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard had a World Cup record 16 saves.
Belgium will now face Spain on Friday, July 10 in the World Cup quarterfinals. Belgium had its best finish, third place, in the 2018 tournament.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Belgium claps back at USA and Folarin Balogun's red card after World Cup win
Continue reading...
