FIFA shot down Belgium’s desperate attempt to keep American soccer star Folarin Balogun sidelined Monday night, clearing the U.S. striker to suit up against the Europeans at full strength.
The FIFA Appeal Committee ruled Belgium’s challenge “inadmissible” because the country “has no standing to appeal the decision,” according to The Athletic. Belgium wasn’t a party to the original proceedings — and their tantrum fell flat.
The European country said it could still contest Balogun’s eligibility, but for now, the Belgians will have to face reality: America is coming at them with everything.
“The Royal Belgian Football Association 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.”
Belgium also complained it “has still not received any grounds for” FIFA’s decision to overturn Balogun’s one-game suspension.
The controversy started during Team USA’s round of 32 game against Bosnia and Herzegovina when Balogun collided with an opposing defender and his cleats caught the back of the defender’s ankle. The referee didn’t dish out the red card until after he used replay assist to revisit the incident.
Under FIFA rules, the red card made Balogun ineligible for America’s round of 16 game.
Then President Donald Trump made a phone call to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Shortly after, FIFA overturned Balogun’s suspension Sunday — sparking outrage among European soccer elites.
Trump defended the reversal Monday, making clear he didn’t pressure FIFA’s leadership.
“I didn’t tell [Infantino] what to do,” Trump said. “I can’t tell him what to do, and I don’t believe he made the decision. I believe it was a committee that made the decision, and they made the right decision.”
The referee who gave Balogun the red card is suspected of using replay assist improperly — slowing down the speed of the video that showed the collision. The White House assembled a team of elite lawyers to look into challenging soccer officials’ use of replay review, OutKick founder Clay Travis reported.
European soccer leaders blasted FIFA after the suspension reversal, claiming the decision hurts the “integrity” of the game.
“When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined.”
The Union of European Football Associations wrote that the decision “creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition.”
The United States takes on Belgium at 8:00 p.m. ET Monday.
Breaking @TheAthleticFC
FIFA Appeal Committee has rendered request by Belgian FA as “inadmissible” as Belgium “not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision.”
Which means according to FIFA, Balogun can play tonighthttps://t.co/lxdCy6D6Ig
— Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton_) July 6, 2026
