Belgium has a limited time to appeal FIFA’s decision to reverse the U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s one-game suspension. The Athletic reports that the Belgian soccer federation, along with U.S. Soccer, was asked to present arguments to the FIFA appeals committee by 8 a.m. ET on Monday, July 6. A possible ruling may occur before Belgium’s match, scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, but no assurances have been provided.
Balogun received a red card during the USA’s victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, his suspension for the match against Belgium was reversed on Sunday after President Donald Trump requested FIFA president Gianni Infantino to reconsider.
The Belgian federation expressed surprise at FIFA’s decision to delay the ban for a year. Belgium coach Rudi Garcia echoed this sentiment in a media session on Sunday, stating, “I thought the World Cup was in July, not April. It’s now April Fools.” He emphasized that the matter concerns the integrity of football.
According to previous reports by The Athletic, Belgium asked for a detailed explanation of the reversal, which was not disclosed publicly. FIFA’s disciplinary committee is not obligated to release this information.
Balogun, who has scored three goals in this year’s World Cup, is the USA’s top scorer. His participation in the lineup strengthens the USA’s effort to secure a spot in the tournament’s quarterfinals.
