Seattle – The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has protested FIFA’s decision to clear United States striker Folarin Balogun for Monday’s FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash against Belgium, as reports of U.S. President Donald Trump’s intervention deepened a growing controversy surrounding the governing body’s ruling.
The Belgian federation, in a strongly worded statement, said it was “astonished” by FIFA’s decision to suspend the enforcement of Balogun’s automatic one-match ban after his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The RBFA argued that FIFA’s action contradicts both its own Disciplinary Code and the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations, which provide that any player sent off by a direct or indirect red card must automatically miss the team’s next match.
According to the Belgian federation, the same rule had been consistently applied throughout the tournament and was reaffirmed in FIFA Circular No. 16 issued to participating nations before the World Cup.
The controversy intensified after reports emerged that President Trump personally telephoned FIFA President Gianni Infantino, urging him to review Balogun’s suspension. The White House-backed intervention reportedly came before FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee invoked Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code to suspend the enforcement of the striker’s ban, allowing him to face Belgium.
The unprecedented decision has sparked widespread criticism across the football world, with Belgium questioning whether political influence played a role in what many observers describe as an extraordinary departure from FIFA’s long-established disciplinary practice.
In its statement, the RBFA insisted that it was examining “all potential options” to protect the rights of participating teams and preserve the principles of fair play, warning that the decision could set a troubling precedent for future FIFA competitions.
FIFA has maintained that the decision was taken under Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, which permits the Disciplinary Committee to suspend the enforcement of a sanction in exceptional circumstances. However, Belgium maintains that the provision cannot override the automatic suspension required under the World Cup regulations.
Balogun, the United States’ leading scorer at the tournament, is expected to start against Belgium in a match that is now overshadowed by one of the biggest disciplinary controversies of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
