World Cup
Press warns dangerous precedent after Balogun's reinstatement
Folarin Balogun's suspension was lifted just before his scheduled appearance against the Belgian national team, igniting a wave of criticism from the international press. The decision, made by FIFA, forces Belgium to adjust their preparation for the upcoming match tomorrow.
Former France striker Thierry Henry, speaking for , said the late notice could mentally unsettle the Rode Duivels. He added that preparing for a match only to have everything changed at the last moment inevitably has an impact.
ITV pundit Gary Neville called the move scandalous at every level. He argued that a system should exist to reverse erroneous decisions, but FIFA acted without warning, allowing Balogun to play despite the suspension.
Former England forward Ian Wright warned that suspensions are meant to be enforced during the tournament to preserve integrity and transparency. He highlighted the involvement of an American player as particularly concerning.
Italy's dello Sport questioned whether the same leniency would be granted to Romelu Lukaku. The newspaper argued that granting Balogun a reprieve contradicts the sport's principles and disregards fairness.
Journalist Tancredi Palmeri described the FIFA ruling as an unprecedented breach of World Cup regulations. He lamented that the governing body altered the rules mid‑competition to favour the United States.
Spain's AS warned that the decision sets a dangerous precedent that could reshape tournament dynamics. It noted that the move could give greater weight to committees, appeals and video analysis over referees' decisions.
The United States will face Belgium live on Voetbalkrant.com from 02:00 on 07 July. Viewers are encouraged to tune in for the contested encounter.