๐จ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐: The Royal Belgian Football Association has released a statement in regard to Folarin Balogun being able to play against them.
"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 USAโBelgium 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."
Keir Starmer could have ended child poverty, homelessness and the grotesque levels of inequality in this country.
Instead, he abandoned those in need, destroyed our civil liberties and facilitated genocide in Gaza.
That is how this Prime Minister will be remembered - and that is the legacy of moral and political bankruptcy he leaves behind.
The crises in our society are not going away. Neither are we - and we will keep fighting for a more equal, peaceful and dignified society for all.
If you'd consumed any news about the Makerfield by-election, you'd have been given the impression it was close.
It was not.
If you add Reform, Restore and Tory votes together, Labour still beat them by 5,000 votes.
Labour: 24,937
Reform UK: 15,696
Restore: 3,111
Conservative: 997
Green: 308
Lib Dem: 163
This is the Belfast I know and love. Over 5,000 people gathered chanting "refugees are welcome here".
Thugs setting homes and buses on fire do not represent Northern Ireland.
Big News this morning : The George Washington statue near Fenway Park in Boston has been given the Highest Honour By the ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ Scottish Fans. Someone has got up there God knows how and placed a traffic cone โกon his heed. ๐ ๐คฃ๐๐. This is a proud moment for ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ Scotland.
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