Folarin Balogun: FIFA Clears USMNT Star to Take Field as Appeals Committee Scraps Belgium’s Red Car Appeal Hours Before World Cup Match

FIFA’s appeals committee rejected Belgium’s appeal over Folarin Balogun’s red card, confirming that the U.S. men’s national team striker is eligible to play against Belgium. Belgium had appealed the decision that overturned Balogun’s suspension, before UEFA slammed FIFA, saying the governing body had “crossed a red line.”

Officials from the Belgian football federation wrote to FIFA, saying they were “astonished” by the ruling. According to anonymous sources cited by The Athletic, FIFA has approved Belgium’s request to appeal. As a result, Belgium’s case was reviewed by a member of FIFA’s appeals committee who is not affiliated with either UEFA or CONCACAF. However, Balogun had the last laugh after FIFA’s decision.

Relief for Balogun

“The request was rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA [Royal Belgian Football Association] is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision,” FIFA said in a statement.

The RBFA, which had earlier said it did not plan to appeal but was only seeking an explanation—a request FIFA treated as an appeal—later issued another statement saying it had informed the U.S. Soccer Federation that it would challenge Balogun’s eligibility after the match if he takes the field.

“The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has received the decision of the FIFA Appeal Committee, signed by its member Mr Salman Al-Ansari, which declares the RBFA’s case inadmissible and confirms the earlier decision allowing United States player Folarin Balogun to play,” the statement reads.

“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 the procedure. … 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.”

Trump Card

A lot has happened since Sunday to overturn the red card decision against Balogun. President Donald Trump reportedly intervened and urged the FIFA president to reconsider the red-card suspension handed to the U.S. men’s national team’s breakout star.

A behind-the-scenes campaign was reportedly launched by Trump aides and senior U.S. Soccer officials that ultimately led to a direct appeal to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, urging him to review the controversial red card decision on Balogun, the Daily Mail reported.

Balogun was sent off after VAR ruled that he had stepped on the ankle of Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic. Although the referee did not initially issue a yellow card, VAR intervened, and the incident was upgraded to a straight red card, leaving the United States to play the remainder of the match with 10 men.