Belgium will appeal Balogun’s decision and accuse FIFA of a lack of transparency

Belgium has confirmed that it will appeal the decision to suspend the suspension of USA striker Folarin Balogun and expressed its displeasure at FIFA’s failure.

FIFA yesterday used Article 27 of its disciplinary code to reduce Balogun’s punishment, issued after the player’s red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina for a challenge on Tarik Muharemovic, choosing to suspend the punishment for 12 months.

It was an unprecedented move at the World Cup and, as it stands, it means Balogun can play for USA and Belgium in their round of 16 match tonight.

Reports suggest that FIFA was persuaded by US president Donald Trump, a friend of Gianni Infantino, to invoke Article 27 and make Balogun available. Trump later thanked FIFA for “redressing a great injustice” in a post on Truth Social.

The Belgian Football Association (RBFA) quickly expressed their displeasure and confirmed that they are exploring their options.

That is now legal on appeal, although that has been made more difficult by FIFA’s unwillingness to cooperate with their process.

Belgium is not happy with FIFA’s actions

The RBFA’s statement reads as follows: “After reading media reports about FIFA’s decision to automatically lift Balogun’s suspension, RBFA sent a letter to FIFA requesting a copy of the decision, an explanation of the process that was followed, and stated its position in relation to the applicable regulations.

“As its only response, FIFA sent a letter to the RBFA saying that it considers the letter to be a complaint, that a judge has been appointed, and that the RBFA has only a few hours left to complete the complaint. No information has been provided by FIFA.

“For a complaint to be accepted, FIFA’s own rules state that a reasonable decision must first be forwarded to the complainant. Although the RBFA wanted reasonable explanations, FIFA itself created the complaint and quickly confirmed that it would be declared inadmissible.”

It continued: “All this happened when FIFA simultaneously refused to respond to the official requests of the RBFA. Furthermore, during the match coordination meeting, FIFA deliberately removed the section on suspension of players from its automatic presentation. This topic was anyway part of all such meetings before the last four games. No response.”

“To be clear, as of now, the RBFA has not received a decision or an explanation from FIFA regarding this matter. Therefore, there is no other option but to challenge the player’s eligibility for the upcoming match.

“Regardless of the sporting outcome of this match, the RBFA is deeply concerned about what is happening and will continue to fight in the hours, days and months ahead to protect the fundamental principles of ethics, fair competition, and the interests of football as a whole.”

UEFA slams FIFA for ‘unprecedented, incomprehensible and unfair decision’

UEFA took FIFA’s decision lightly and launched an unusual attack on the world governing body.

The statement reads: “Yesterday’s decision to suspend the one-year trial period is the initiation of an automatic one-match suspension following the red card awarded to player Folarin Balogun for crossing the red line.

“Football, like any other sport, depends on the rules, which are the basis of fair competition, honesty and transparency. Sometimes the rules are open to interpretation. In this case it is not. The automatic suspension of one game following a red card is not an optional option and does not require the decision of a competent organization to be suspended. It is a principle included in the rules, which cannot be released under several circumstances without the same competition between many players without the same games. and they always serve their suspension.

“When the certainty of the rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at risk and the integrity of the competition is undermined. Equally, this decision creates a precedent in the ongoing competition, where similar situations will need to be treated equally, which damages the competition.

“Football is the most popular game in the world because it is a good and trusted game because it is played everywhere with the same rules, the competition has never been pure and if the competition in question is the World Cup, it has the power to drive good or bad results in the game as a whole.

“We express our disbelief at the unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjust decision.”

FIFA did the same with Ronaldo’s decision before the World Cup

This is not the first time FIFA has changed the rules regarding suspensions.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s three-match ban, which he received after being sent off for Portugal against the Republic of Ireland in the qualifiers, has been reduced to one, allowing the player to play their World Cup group games.

Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo has also seen his suspension changed, however, and his promotion. Madibo was sent off against Canada for a challenge that broke Ismael Kone’s leg and FIFA increased the standard one-match suspension to five.

Blatter weighs in on FIFA and Infantino

Even the disgraced former president of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, criticized the organization he led.

Blatter, who ended his 17-year term as president in 2015 after a corruption scandal, wrote in X: “Red cards are not canceled by political calls. They are canceled by laws, evidence and independent organizations. If the President of the US intervenes with the President of FIFA – and the player is suddenly cleared before the knockout game of the World Cup – the question cannot be avoided: Football should not be avoided: Football FIFA football will never be avoided.