Belgian FA ‘astonished’ that USMNT’s Folarin Balogun available in round of 16

The Royal Belgian Football Association is not pleased that Folarin Balogun is now available for their round of 16 match with the United States.

In a statement on Sunday, June 5, the Royal Belgian Football Association said they were “astonished” to learn of FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee’s decision to reverse course on Balogun’s one-game red-card suspension from the USMNT’s round of 32 match. The decision makes Balogun now eligible to play in the round of 16 game on Monday in Seattle.

“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,” the Belgian FA wrote in a statement.

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia shared similar displeasure with FIFA’s decision in his media availability on Sunday.

“I thought the World Cup was in July, not April. It’s now April Fools,” Garcia said Sunday through FIFA’s interpreting app about the severity of FIFA’s decision to let Balogun play. “We’re not defending the national team or the federation. We’re defending football.”

Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said it was a “bit of a surprise” when the team learned of Balogun’s updated status, but “nothing changes” in their preparation.

“We focus on the game, to win on the pitch, whoever plays. As for the rest, it’s up to the football federation to reply, as they did,” Courtois said Sunday through FIFA’s interpreting app. “It was a bit of a surprise. Had it been earlier, we would have been able to be a bit more mentally prepared, perhaps. We prepare for everyone. It’s good we still have a training session today. Good we have another day and a half.”

He added: “We as a team, we know we have to win. With or without Balogun, we know we have to win the game.”

Garcia also said, “I’m a head coach. I will focus on my team and tomorrow’s game.”

Balogun was shown off the field in the 64th minute of the USMNT’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina after coming down on the foot of defender Tarik Muharemovic. The red card initially carried a one-match suspension in the next game with no appeal process, but FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee suspended that suspension on Sunday.

“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,” a FIFA statement read. “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.”

Belgian FA called out Article 66.4 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code in its statement, stating that “a red card (sending-off) automatically results in a suspension for the team’s next match” and that it has been that “case for all previous red cards issued during this FIFA World Cup.”

The federation also stated that FIFA’s decision was a “direct contradiction” of the provisions made in Article 10.5 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations.

FIFA declined to provide answers when asked by USA TODAY Sports for additional details on the reasoning behind the reversal of Balogun’s suspension.

USMNT and Belgium are set for an 8 p.m. ET kickoff on Monday, July 6 at Lumen Field in Seattle.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Belgian FA ‘astonished’ that USMNT’s Folarin Balogun available in round of 16