Folarin Balogun red card: FIFA makes decision in Belgium appeal

FIFA denied Belgium’s appeal over the decision to suspend USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun’s one-game ban for a red card in a Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The FIFA Appeal Committee issued a statement hours before kickoff between the U.S. and Belgium.

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Folarin Balogun celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup Round of 32 match against Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

“The FIFA Appeal Committee has rendered a request submitted by the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) as inadmissible in relation to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision to suspend for one year the match suspension imposed on United States national-team player Folarin Balogun following his dismissal for a direct red card during the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina, played on 1 July 2026 at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium,” FIFA said. “The chairperson of the FIFA Appeal Committee, Neil Eggleston (from the United States), was not involved in the decision.

“The request was rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision.”

Folarin Balogun speaks to media before training in Seattle, Washington, on July 3, 2026. (Steven Bisig/Imagn Images)

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The RBFA responded after the decision was made.

“To date, the RBFA has still not received any grounds for this decision, nor has it received the information it has been requesting since the start of this procedure id est a copy of the decision and the motivation declaring the player eligible as well as the referee’s report. Which is a breach of FIFA regulations,” the federation said.

Folarin Balogun celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

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“The RBFA has informed the United States Soccer Federation that it contests the eligibility of the player, should the player be listed on the referee’s team sheet. This leaves all further actions open.”