Belgium FA to challenge Folarin Balogun’s eligibility for USA clash as FIFA row escalates | OneFootball

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has formally questioned the eligibility of United States striker Folarin Balogun to feature in their FIFA World Cup last-16 clash.

This comes after FIFA decided to overturn Balogun’s suspension, making him available for selection despite an earlier red-card ban. 

The governing body reviewed the case after US President Donald Trump reportedly urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to reconsider the punishment.

Belgium’s football federation insists it has yet to receive any official explanation outlining why Balogun’s ban was suspended. 

According to the RBFA, its repeated requests for the reasoning behind FIFA’s decision have gone unanswered, leaving the organisation with serious concerns ahead of Monday’s knockout encounter.

In a strongly worded statement, the RBFA said it had no option but to challenge Balogun’s eligibility, arguing that transparency has been lacking throughout the process. 

The RBFA statement read: “After learning through media reports of FIFA’s decision to lift the automatic suspension of player Balogun, the RBFA sent a letter to FIFA requesting a copy of the decision, an explanation of the process that had been followed, and setting out its position regarding the applicable regulations.

“As its only response, FIFA sent a letter to the RBFA stating that it considered this correspondence to constitute an appeal, that a judge had been appointed, and that the RBFA had only a few hours to complete that appeal.

“While the RBFA was merely seeking legitimate explanations, FIFA itself created an appeal and immediately ensured that it would be declared inadmissible.

“To be clear, as of this moment, the RBFA has still not received any decision or any explanation from FIFA regarding this matter. 

“It therefore has no alternative but to challenge the player’s eligibility for the upcoming match.”

Infantino has also broken his silence over the situation.

While he admitted to speaking to Trump about Balogun’s suspension, he insisted that the decision was made by an independent body, over which he has no influence.

“FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent,” he said (via The Telegraph’s James Ducker).

“They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them.

“Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues.

“During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies.

“I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree.

“What I always do, however, is respect those decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them.”

FIFA’s decision has sent shockwaves across the football world, shaking the integrity of the sport to its foundation.

This isn’t the first time the governing body has pulled a stunt like this. 

FIFA also suspended a ban for Cristiano Ronaldo, clearing him to play in Portugal’s opening World Cup games despite receiving a red card.

At the moment, Belgium are focusing on their upcoming contest with the USA, with a place in the quarter-final against either Portugal or Spain up for grabs.