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Belgium HC reacts to FIFA rescinding Folarin Balogun's suspension
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia. Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Belgium HC Rudi Garcia reacts to FIFA rescinding Folarin Balogun's suspension ahead of World Cup tilt

By Clark Dalton  |  Last updated Jul 5, 2026 6:10 PM ET
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FIFA revoked THE United States Men's National Team forward Folarin Balogun's one-game suspension on Sunday. Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia slammed that decision.  

The United States faces Belgium in the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup at Lumen Field in Seattle on Monday (Fox/Telemundo, 8 p.m. ET). In a Sunday news conference, Garcia compared the decision to let Balogun play to a practical joke on a much-maligned holiday.

Rudi Garcia reacts to Folarin Balogun decision 

"I didn't know that at the World Cup, the 5th of July is actually the first of April. It's April Fools," he said (h/t The Athletic's Tom Bogert). "We're not defending the national team or federation, we are defending football." 

The Royal Belgian Football Association released a lengthy statement shortly after learning of FIFA's decision, calling it "astonishing." It then cited the rulebook to skewer the reversal.

"FIFA bases its decision on Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. This provision states that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may decide to suspend the enforcement of a previously imposed disciplinary sanction. 

"However, Article 66.4 of the same FIFA Disciplinary Code clearly provides that a red card (sending-off) automatically results in a suspension for the team's next match, as has been the case for all previous red cards issued during this FIFA World Cup."

FIFA rarely changes its decisions. However, it does give star players preferential treatment. It used Article 27 in a similar situation involving Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo in 2025, reducing a three-match suspension to one. Had it upheld the original decision, he would've missed the first two matches of the 2026 World Cup. 

Balogun, of course, isn't on the same tier as Ronaldo, but he is one of America's top players. He leads the team in goals (three) at the World Cup. 

Belgium may not like it, but TV viewers and spectators want to see the best players at the World Cup. FIFA will do whatever it can to ensure they get what they want.

Plus, many soccer experts considered the original call on Balogun to be wrong. He was ejected in the 64th minute of a 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32 with the help of VAR (video assistant review). Though Balogun stepped on the foot of defender Tarik Muharemovic, former referees said the contact was accidental.

Belgium must accept that Balogun is playing whether it likes it or not. Stopping him will be one of the keys to winning on Monday. 

Clark Dalton
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Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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