'Overturn this': Belgium players mock Donald Trump with goal celebrations as USA dumped out of World Cup | OneFootball

Belgium took delight in knocking out the co-hosts with a thumping 4-1 win

Belgium players appeared to mock US President Donald Trump as co-hosts USA were thumped 4-1 to exit the World Cup.

Build-up to the last-16 clash was overshadowed by star USMNT striker Florian Balogun having his one-game red card ban suspended for a year following an intervention from Trump.

FIFA announced on Sunday that the automatic one-match ban for Balogun’s dismissal against Bosnia and Herzegovina had been suspended, with Belgium, appealing – unsuccessfully – against the decision.

Trump then stated he asked for the dismissal to be looked at, and said he would have felt Monday night’s match against Belgium would have been “rigged” if Balogun had not been able to play.

Infantino issued a statement on Monday evening saying the decision had been taken by its independent disciplinary committee, but earlier Trump revealed he had lobbied Infantino.

European football’s governing body UEFA issued an extraordinary statement on Monday morning, saying FIFA’s decision had “crossed a red line”.

But, come game time, Balogun - along with USA poster boy Christian Pulisic - produced an invisible display in a humbling defeat.

Belgium opened the scoring in the ninth minute, Charles De Ketelaere capitalising on some sloppy defending to tap in a pass deep in the box.

The hosts looked outpaced early, but relieved some pressure at the half-hour mark when a Malik Tillman free kick made a slight deflection off the wall and sent Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois the wrong way.

The raucous crowd was quietened just minutes later however – De Ketelaere nabbing his second goal through a perfectly headed cross in the six-yard box.

Their task got more difficult in the 57th minute when Belgium made the most of an unforced error.

US goalkeeper Matt Freese came way off his line to meet a long ball but his attempted kick only found the turf, with the ball instead ending up in the possession of Hans Vanaken, whose shot beat defender Tim Ream and gave Belgium some breathing room.

A Romelu Lukaku goal in added time was ultimately the dagger in the heart for the US, with Belgium progressing to a quarter-final clash with Spain.

It was during the celebrations of Lukaku’s goal that Belgium players all did the so-called ‘Trump dance’, which involves side-to-side hip sways and alternating fist pumps.

Trump has regularly been seen pulling off the awkward jig to the disco hit YMCA at his rallies and public events.

The official X account of the Belgium national team celebrated the victory with an “Overturn this” post, a clear jibe at Trump and FIFA.

Balogun visited Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia told fifa.com after the game to congratulate him and his players.

He told reporters: “I just wanted to say congratulations to Belgium and Rudi Garcia, and wish them good luck for the rest of the tournament. That was pretty much the conversation I had with him.

“He said he hopes that this situation won’t overshadow the fantastic World Cup I’ve had. He just wanted to encourage me to be positive and to be proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish in this tournament.”