FIFA got it right by suspending Folarin Balogun’s Red Card under Article 27.
Belgium’s protesting the decision isn’t about the integrity of the game. It’s about getting an advantage over the USA.
If it was about the integrity of the game, they would be championing Balogun having his Red card suspended because it was improper use of the VAR system and not a Red card offense.
Where were the appeals when Cristiano Ronaldo got his 3 game red card ban suspended and reduced to a 1 game ban on a friendly so he could play this entire World Cup?
DR Congo and Uzbekistan didn’t protest Cristiano Ronaldo eligibility to play.
They played Portugal at full strength.
If Belgium doesn’t want to play now because FIFA made the right call and the USA has Folarin Balogun back in the lineup, then THAT’S WEAK.
They don’t deserve to win.
Put the ball down and play.
Don’t pick up your ball and go home.
"WHY CAN'T WE HAVE 8 AWESOME BULLPEN ARMS AND NO ONE EVER NEEDS REST, NEVER GETS HURT OR HAS A BAD GAME?? WHY DO WE ONLY HAVE 7 GOOD ARMS AND THE BEST BULLPEN ERA IN BASEBALL??? EVERYTHING IS TERRIBLE, WE ARE DOOMED!!!!"
🚨⚠️ 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.”
just a reminder that today we recognize that Citizen Militia’s and a newly organized Professional Continental Army faced Tyranny and won. Our national sport has always been watering the tree of Liberty.