Belgium vow to contest Balogun's eligibility after FIFA rejects their appeal ahead of USA quarter-final

The Belgian Football Association has confirmed it will challenge Folarin Balogun’s eligibility to face them in the World Cup quarter-final on Monday, hours after FIFA rejected their formal appeal and declared the United States striker free to play.

FIFA ruled the Belgian FA’s appeal “inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision.” Belgium responded by stating the ruling “leaves all further actions open,” signalling they intend to pursue the matter through whatever channels remain available.

Balogun was shown a straight red card during the USA’s round-of-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, having accidentally caught Tarik Muharemovic with his studs. The dismissal was confirmed by VAR and carried an automatic one-match suspension, which would have ruled the former Arsenal forward out of the Belgium tie. On Sunday, however, FIFA’s independent Disciplinary Committee suspended that ban for one year, effectively clearing Balogun to play.

The decision has attracted significant controversy after US President Donald Trump publicly acknowledged calling FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the case. Infantino moved to distance himself from the outcome in a formal statement, insisting FIFA’s judicial bodies operate autonomously.

“FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them,” Infantino said. “Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected.”

Infantino confirmed he had spoken with Trump but said he had made clear during that conversation that “there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies.”

The USA had not been permitted to appeal the original red card decision themselves, making the Disciplinary Committee’s move to reduce the ban on its own initiative all the more unusual. With Belgium’s formal legal route now closed off by FIFA, it remains to be seen what practical steps the RBFA can take before Monday’s quarter-final kicks off.