RBFA protests FIFA's reversal on Balogun's World Cup eligibility

In the 64th minute of the United States' Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, striker Folarin Balogun received a straight red card for stepping on Tarek Muharemovic’s leg. The Royal Belgian Football Association said on Sunday afternoon it was shocked that FIFA subsequently cleared Balogun to feature in Monday’s World Cup Round of 16 clash against Belgium. Replay officials summoned referee Raphael Claus to the monitor after the incident, confirming that Balogun had stepped on Muharemovic’s leg while the two jockeyed for position. Nevertheless, the suspension that would normally have barred him from the next match was lifted a day before the Round of 16 fixture. FIFA justified the clearance by invoking Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which permits the Disciplinary Committee to suspend enforcement of an existing sanction. Article 66.4, however, stipulates that a direct red card automatically triggers a suspension for the team's subsequent match, a rule applied to every red card issued in the tournament so far.

Belgian coach rages at FIFA’s April‑Fool decision on Balogun

The RBFA highlighted that the decision conflicts with Article 10.5 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations, which mandates an automatic suspension for any player sent off by a direct or indirect red card. That provision was also reiterated in FIFA World Cup 2026 Circular No. 16, distributed to all member associations on 12 May 2026, and repeatedly emphasized at every Match Coordination Meeting and workshop presentation. The Belgian federation said it is investigating all potential options to protect the legitimate rights of participating teams and uphold fair‑play principles. Its statement underscores concerns that the precedent could affect future disciplinary consistency across the tournament.

FIFA overturns Balogun red card: Belgium vows legal fight over rule breach

All previous red cards in the tournament have resulted in the offending player missing the following match, reinforcing the expectation of automatic bans. Balogun’s eligibility therefore represents a departure from that established pattern.