Belgium Shocked by Balogun's Red Card Reversal After Trump's Call: "All Options Under Review"

The Belgian Football Association (RBFA) expressed its astonishment on Sunday following FIFA's Disciplinary Committee decision to lift the one-match ban on American forward Folarin Balogun. This ruling allows Balogun to play in the World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday, despite being sent off in the previous game, reported by Marca.

In an official statement, the Belgian federation announced it is exploring its options to uphold the principles of fair play: "To safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and protect the core principles of fair play in our sport, both in this FIFA World Cup and in future editions, the RBFA is reviewing every possible option."

The Incident that Sparked Controversy

The controversy stems from July 1, when Balogun received a direct red card in the 64th minute of the Round of 32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. This was due to stepping on defender Tarik Muharemovic's ankle in an incident reviewed by VAR and deemed "serious foul play."

Despite being down to ten men for over 25 minutes, the United States secured a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and moved on to face Belgium in the Round of 16 at Seattle's Lumen Field.

Belgium Challenges FIFA's Ruling

The RBFA challenged FIFA's interpretation of the rules with specific arguments: "Article 66.4 of the same FIFA Disciplinary Code clearly states that a red card automatically results in a suspension for the next team match, as has been the case with all red cards issued earlier in this World Cup."

Belgium's federation also pointed out that the decision "directly contradicts the provisions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Regulations," specifically article 10.5, which mandates an automatic suspension for any player sent off with a direct red card.

Trump's Alleged Intervention

The most contentious aspect of the case is the alleged involvement of the U.S. President. According to a source familiar with the matter cited by CNN en Español, Donald Trump personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino days before the announcement to request a review of the suspension.

Following the decision, Trump posted on Truth Social: "Thank you to FIFA for doing the right thing and overturning a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP."

Balogun's Impact and FIFA's Justification

Balogun, a 25-year-old forward for AS Monaco, is the top scorer for the United States in the tournament with four goals in four matches, including a historic hat-trick in the opener against Paraguay, marking the first by an American in a World Cup since Bert Patenaude in 1930.

FIFA based its ruling on Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, which allows the Disciplinary Committee to suspend a sanction, either partially or entirely. The penalty is now on a one-year probation: if Balogun commits another similar offense, the suspension will be enforced automatically.

Belgian coach Rudi Garcia did not hide his sarcasm when assessing the situation: "It's April Fool's Day."

Garcia also emphasized his federation's stance beyond immediate sporting concerns: "The Belgian federation is not defending itself, it is not defending the national team, it is defending football as a whole. It is defending its integrity. It is defending its ethics."

The clash between the United States and Belgium, which overcame Senegal 3-2 in extra time in the Round of 32, is set for Monday at Seattle's Lumen Field, with Balogun eligible to play for the U.S. team while the RBFA continues to consider its appeal options.