Belgium files FIFA complaint over World Cup training facilities ahead of Spain quarterfinal

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Belgium is preparing to take on Spain in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals on Friday -CreditIRK WAEM, BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images


Belgium's dissatisfaction with FIFA regarding the Folarin Balogun situation has evidently carried over into the team's World Cup quarterfinal buildup, with the Belgian federation now filing another grievance just days ahead of their game against Spain.

According to Belgian outlet Le Soir, the Royal Belgian Football Association has demanded that FIFA shift the squad's training facility after determining that the facilities at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles failed to satisfy what the federation characterized as acceptable standards.

Belgium has alternatively requested to practice at MLS franchise LA Galaxy's complex, with a workout already arranged there for Thursday. Discussions between the RBFA and FIFA regarding the appeal were reportedly continuing, with no ultimate resolution announced, via The Mirror US.

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-CreditIRK WAEM, BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images

The training facility disagreement arrives in the wake of a much more significant confrontation between Belgium and FIFA earlier in the competition.

Belgium ousted the U.S. Men's National Team 4-1 in Seattle on Monday, but the lead-up to that encounter was overshadowed by fury from the Belgian federation after FIFA suspended a one-match ban arising from Balogun's red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32, allowing the American striker to feature against Belgium.

The about-face followed a telephone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, and it represented the first occasion since 1962 that a red card at a World Cup did not trigger a suspension.

The RBFA reacted with fury at the time, demanding answers from FIFA and accusing the organization of engineering an appeal it never intended to uphold. Belgium coach Rudi Garcia went so far as to suggest the ruling felt like an "April Fools" joke.

The federation's grievances persisted even after the final whistle at Lumen Field, with the team's official social media account posting "Overturn this" in the wake of their win.

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Belgium's players appeared to channel some of that frustration on the field. Following Romelu Lukaku's stoppage-time strike that wrapped up the 4-1 victory, several Belgian players performed what has become known as the "Trump dance" along the goal line as American supporters streamed out of Seattle Stadium.

Trump weighed in on the then-upcoming game during a public appearance Monday, stating, "If Belgium wins, they can be proud," while insisting that fairness demanded the strongest available players from both nations be on the pitch.

With the training facility dispute now added to the growing list of complaints Belgium has raised throughout the past week, the Red Devils are set to shift their focus to Friday's quarterfinal showdown against Spain at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Spain heads into the fixture unbeaten and having kept a clean sheet across all five tournament matches, presenting a formidable challenge for a Belgian team looking to capitalize on the momentum generated by their commanding victory over the tournament co-hosts.

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