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Belgium is furious over Balogun's red card being rescinded
Belgium is not happy that Team USA’s Folarin Balogun will be allowed to play in their Round of 16 game on Monday, despite receiving a red card in last week’s game vs Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On Sunday, FIFA surprisingly announced that it had suspended Balogun’s red card suspension under Article 27.
Via NY Times
A statement from the governing body and World Cup organizer read: “In line with article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year.
“If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”
The Royal Belgian Football Association immediately issued a statement calling FIFA’s decision “astonishing”, and revealed they planned to investigate their options leading up to the game on Monday.
“Astonished.” Royal Belgian FA reaction to FIFA’s extraordinary decision to lift suspension on Folarin Balogun. @RoyalBelgianFA adds that “to safeguard the legitimate rights” of teams it is “investigating all potential options”. Unbelievable decision. pic.twitter.com/et3PHNRzjV
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) July 5, 2026
“The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) is astonished by FIFA’s decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play in the USA–Belgium match on Monday, 6 July at 5:00 p.m. (Seattle time).
FIFA bases its decision on Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
This provision states that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may decide to suspend the enforcement of a previously imposed disciplinary sanction.
However, Article 66.4 of the same FIFA Disciplinary Code clearly provides that a red card (sending-off) automatically results in a suspension for the team’s next match, as has been the case for all previous red cards issued during this FIFA World Cup.
Furthermore, and irrespective of the above, the decision is in direct contradiction with the provisions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations, as set out in Article 10.5:
“If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card (second caution), they will automatically be suspended from their team’s subsequent match. In addition, further sanctions may be imposed.”
The automatic nature of such a suspension was also explicitly reaffirmed in FIFA World Cup 2026 Circular No. 16, which was distributed to all participating member associations on 12 May 2026.
The same rule is reiterated at every FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Coordination Meeting prior to each match and is included in all FIFA World Cup 2026 workshop presentations.
❗️In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options.”
Belgium’s head coach Rudi Garcia also blasted FIFA’s decision to allow Balogun to play.
Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia on FIFA's decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's one-match ban:
“I didn’t know that at the World Cup the 5th of July is actually the first of April. It’s April Fools.”
“We’re not defending the national team or federation, we are defending… pic.twitter.com/QyHMlUovhG
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) July 5, 2026