​Belgium’s football federation said Sunday afternoon that it was shocked and perplexed by FIFA’s decision to allow United States forward Folarin Balogun to take part in Monday’s World Cup Round of 16 match. Balogun had been suspended for the Belgium game after receiving a straight red card in the 64th minute of the USA’s Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The red card led to a suspension, but that punishment was reportedly suspended just a day before the game.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) issued a statement expressing its astonishment at FIFA’s ruling to declare Balogun eligible for the USA–Belgium match on Monday, July 6 at 5:00 p.m. Seattle time. FIFA based its decision on Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which allows the FIFA Disciplinary Committee to suspend enforcement of a previously imposed sanction. However, Article 66.4 of the same code provides that a red card automatically suspends the next match, a rule that has applied for all red cards issued in this World Cup.
Moreover, the RBFA argued that the decision contradicts the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations, specifically Article 10.5, which states that a player or team official sent off for a direct or indirect red card is automatically suspended from the next match, with potential additional sanctions possible. This automatic suspension was also reaffirmed in FIFA World Cup 2026 Circular No. 16, distributed to all associations on May 12, 2026, and reiterated at every World Cup 2026 Match Coordination Meeting and in workshop materials.
To protect the rights of all teams and uphold fair play, the RBFA said it is reviewing all available options. The federation noted that red-card rules are intended to be straightforward: a direct red results in the next-match suspension, and suspensions for violent conduct can extend to three games. FIFA’s rationale for allowing Balogun to play referenced Article 27 of the disciplinary code, which allows partial or full suspension of a disciplinary measure. Ahead of the tournament, Ronaldo’s three-match ban for violent conduct had been cited for context.