Belgium national soccer team head coach Rudi Garcia expressed strong disapproval of FIFA’s decision to suspend the penalty against U.S. national team forward Folarin Balogun for one year.
The U.S., host of the 2026 International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup, is set to face European powerhouse Belgium in the round of 16 on July 7 at Seattle Stadium in Washington State.
In a surprising turn of events, FIFA lifted Balogun’s red card suspension just a day before the match, clearing him to play against Belgium.
At the pre-match press conference, Coach Garcia quipped that he thought today was April Fool’s Day, expressing his disbelief at FIFA’s decision.
He emphasized that this isn’t about the Belgian team or the football association. It’s about protecting the integrity of soccer, its ethics, and fairness in sports.
Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, also present at the press conference, shared his frustration: Learning about Balogun’s eligibility just a day before the match caught them off guard. Earlier notice would have allowed for better mental preparation.
Meanwhile, the U.S. team welcomes Balogun’s return. The forward has been crucial to their campaign, netting three goals in three matches.
U.S. Coach Mauricio Pochettino defended the decision, stating that Balogun’s red card was unwarranted; the punishment was excessive for an unintentional foul. While it’s not claiming victimhood, it’s certainly not the villains here.
U.S. team captain Christian Pulisic hailed Balogun’s return as a significant boost for the squad.
Balogun’s red card incident occurred during the group stage match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. After scoring the opener, he was sent off in the 64th minute for stepping on midfielder Tarik Muharemovic’s heel.
Tournament rules typically bar players with red cards from the next match, but FIFA made an unprecedented move by suspending Balogun’s penalty for a year.
The New York Times reported that President Donald Trump personally intervened, calling FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of Balogun’s penalty. FIFA has yet to comment on this claim.