🚨⚠️ OFFICIAL: Belgian Federation statement on Folarin Balogun red card case, saying they are “astonished”.
“The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) is astonished by FIFA's decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play in the USA–Belgium match on Monday, 6 July at 5:00 p.m. (Seattle time).
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.
Furthermore, and irrespective of the above, the decision is in direct contradiction with the provisions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations, as set out in Article 10.5:
"If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card (second caution), they will automatically be suspended from their team's subsequent match. In addition, further sanctions may be imposed.”
The automatic nature of such a suspension was also explicitly reaffirmed in FIFA World Cup 2026 Circular No. 16, which was distributed to all participating member associations on 12 May 2026.
The same rule is reiterated at every FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Coordination Meeting prior to each match and is included in all FIFA World Cup 2026 workshop presentations.
❗️In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options.”
I used to buy those cheap sunglasses from the roadside all the time and always thought, "What's the point of buying expensive ones? I'm going to loose them anyway." Then one day, I gathered the courage and bought an expensive sunglasses. And guess what? I still have them. I've taken care of them ever since.
That's when I realized those cheap sunglasses weren't getting lost because they were cheap? They were getting lost because I didn't value them enough to care. It's hard to accept, but sometimes in someone else's story, you are that cheap pair of sunglasses.
Pedri: "The La Liga trophy is heavier than it looks."
Vitinha: "Same with the Ligue 1 trophy."
Rice: "The Premier League trophy nearly broke my arms."
Bruno:
The funny thing here is that Mr Eazi might have a celebrity crush who isn't his wife but as a married man, he knows common knowledge should tell him to choose Temi because it doesn't make sense to be crushing on another woman while being married but Temi couldn't reciprocate the same energy. Just to tell you how ruthless women are.
This is what happens when you allow your wife leave the kitchen to join the average modern woman to speak at a podcast. At some point, she must ridicule you because that's how women punish weak men for giving them freedom to act however they like.
A woman telling you she has a celebrity crush is her telling you she has a man she can cheat on you with if he makes a move but men forget to understand that fact. There's no woman who has a celebrity crush that won't cheat on you if the chance presents itself.
"I’m not a looks person"
Not only is she crushing on another man while being married, she also had to rub it on his face that he isn't good looking and bro had to clean his face with shame.
Unfortunately, Nigerian men have no self regard for themselves which is why they keep settling for women who find it amazing to disgrace their partners online at any given opportunity.
Since these two started appearing on podcasts, it has been from one fooling to another. Today Eazi is talking about how pregnancy which is the barest minimum is a supernatural thing for women and they're like gods while his wife keeps reminding him she doesn't care about looks.
Two billionaires in naira, rather than focus on their business, they're always on podcast every week embarrassing themselves.
If there's something you should learn from their union is as a married man, keep your marriage private and settle for a woman who sees you as her celebrity crush.
Know this and know peace.
If the last few days of this World Cup didn’t teach you anything about humans, I fear you may never learn.
Jeremy Doku wanted to leave the Belgian camp to be there for the birth of his first child. There was outrage. A french media personality criticised him publicly. Called him names. Said he was throwing away a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to cut an umbilical cord.
Didier Deschamps' mother passed away. He needed to leave. Everyone understood. "Rest in peace." "Take all the time you need." Full compassion. No questions asked.
Read that again.
We are comfortable with a man leaving to bury his mother - but a man leaving to witness the birth of his child is controversial?
That’s an express show of the insensitivity that has become prevalent today because everyone has an opinion on everyone’s lives.
Death gets grace. Life doesn't.
That is the hypocrisy.
Once a celebrity dies, watch the entire timeline filled with people saying
"give people their flowers while they're alive" and "cherish your loved ones" but it's performance. It's paparazzi.
Because the moment a man actually chooses his family in real time, over work, over ambition, over the World Cup - suddenly he's irresponsible.
We only honour love when it's too late. We only respect presence when someone is gone.
If you ever find yourself having to choose between your family and your work, choose your family. 100% of the time. Not 99.
Workplace is ruthless. If Doku drops a stinker during a game, nobody cares about his sacrifice, HE WILL BE TAKEN OFF.
Your family IS the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
May God strengthen the family of the bereaved and may he add more joy and laughter to the family celebrating new life.
A few years ago, my friends invited me on a ski trip.
I declined.
Couldn't afford it.
One of them immediately said:
"Come anyway."
I said no again.
He kept pushing.
Finally I admitted the truth:
"I have $43 in my bank account."
Nobody replied.
The group chat went silent.
A few minutes later one friend sent $50.
Then another sent $20.
Then another.
By the end of the night there was enough money for the trip.
I felt terrible.
I told them I'd pay everyone back.
One friend replied:
"Don't."
Another said:
"Just do it for somebody else when it's your turn."
That was 8 years ago.
I've paid for plane tickets.
Covered rent.
Bought groceries.
Helped people who never knew the story.
And honestly...
the most valuable thing my friends gave me wasn't the money.
It was the chance to stop feeling ashamed for needing help.