FIFA makes final decision on Folarin Balogun red card after Belgium appeal as statement issued

FIFA has made a decision on whether Folarin Balogun will take part in the USA’s World Cup round of 16 clash against Belgium on Tuesday (July 7).

After Balogun, who has registered three goals and as many assists for the USA at the tournament, was sent off during the co-hosts’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 2, he initially received a one-match ban, meaning he would miss the round of 16 tie against Belgium.

However, on Sunday (July 5), FIFA announced that it had decided to suspend the ban for a period of 12 months, allowing the Monaco striker to take part in the USA’s next match, citing Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

A statement released by FIFA 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.

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"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."

US President Donald Trump then weighed in with his thoughts, writing on Truth Social: "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP."

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) responded with two strongly worded statements, with the first detailing how it was "astonished by the decision".

A second, released on Monday (July 6), claimed the association had not received any information or context regarding the controversial decision. Belgium also appealed the decision.

Part of the second statement read: “As its only response, FIFA sent a letter to the RBFA stating that it considered this correspondence to constitute an appeal, that a judge had been appointed, and that the RBFA had only a few hours to complete that appeal. No information whatsoever was provided by FIFA.

“For an appeal to be admissible, FIFA’s own regulations state that the reasoned decision must first have been communicated to the appellant. While the RBFA was merely seeking legitimate explanations, FIFA itself created an appeal and immediately ensured that it would be declared inadmissible.”

Earlier on Monday, UEFA heavily criticised the decision, accusing FIFA of “crossing a red line” before adding that the move was “incomprehensible and unjustifiable”.

Trump also admitted that he “asked for a review by FIFA” during a press conference, with the 80-year-old explaining: “I spoke to a man who's highly respected and, by the way, whose level of respect has gone up tenfold. And he was good before this started. But, you know, he really pushed it in this country.

“I'm the one who got them to do it. It was not Biden. Biden was asleep. I got him to do it. In fact, it was very sad because I got him to do it. And if the progression was normal, I would have been retired now.”

FIFA makes final decision on Folarin Balogun ban

Finally, on Monday evening, FIFA made a final decision on Balogun’s participation, with the organisation clearing the USA forward to play in the round of 16 clash.

FIFA confirmed the decision in the following statement: “The request was rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision.”

The RBFA responded to the decision with another statement and continued to contest Balogun’s eligibility.

“To date, the RBFA has still not received any grounds for this decision, nor has it received the information it has been requesting since the start of this procedure, including a copy of the decision, the reasoning behind declaring the player eligible, as well as the referee’s report. This is a breach of FIFA regulations,” the RBFA said.

“The RBFA has informed the United States Soccer Federation that it contests the eligibility of the player should the player be listed on the referee’s team sheet. This leaves all further actions open.”

If the USA beat Belgium in Seattle, they will reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2002.