FIFA makes final decision on controversial Folarin Balogun red card suspension
Belgium's bid to prevent Folarin Balogun from being on the pitch during its World Cup clash against the US has failed.
The saga surrounding the star striker has been taken another turn in wake of his actions during his country's game against Bosnia and Herzegovina last Thursday (2 July).
After scoring the opener in the last 32 win, Balogun was shown a red card for standing on the back of Tarik Muharemovic's ankle. Red cards in World Cup football cannot be appealed.
As a result of this incident, the Monaco ace, 25, received an automatic one-game suspension...until a dramatic U-turn took place.
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FIFA suspended his ban, clearing Balogun to play against an 'astonished' Belgium in Seattle on Tuesday (7 July), which kicks off at 1am UK time.
Belgium then launched an appeal against this decision - which has since been dismissed by FIFA, as the governing body of the beautiful game said it has 'no standing' to challenge its decision to overturn his ban.
In a statement this evening, FIFA confirmed that Belgium's appeal had been 'rendered inadmissible'.
It explained: "The request was rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA [Royal Belgian Football Association] is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision."
Given what went down during the game, Balogun was supposed to be benched for the game against Belgium.
However, FIFA Gianni Infantino then received a phone call from Donald Trump before the decision was announced. According to reports, U.S. Soccer threatened FIFA with legal action if the ban wasn't overturned.
The decision to reverse Balogun's ban has been slammed by all corners of the football world - and the RBFA apparently aren't giving up on their argument just yet.
In response to FIFA's decision, a statement was released which read: "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 for 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 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."
Still, FIFA's defiant stance means that Balogun will play against Belgium, as it stands - and the US are hoping to earn a spot in the quarter finals if they bag a victory in Seattle.
UEFA earlier hit back at FIFA's controversial decision in a statement in which the footballing organisation claims FIFA has 'undermined' the credibility of the World Cup.
LADbible previously contacted FIFA for comment.
President Trump heaped praise on FIFA for fixing a ‘great injustice’ in a Truth Social post just after the announcement that Balogun could play.
Trump wrote: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!”
The news was also welcomed by the official White House account, which posted: “USA-USA-USA” followed by a bald eagle emoji.
But Belgium boss Rudia Garcia was not of the same opinon.
He said: "I didn’t know that at the World Cup July 5th is now April 1st - April Fool’s Day. We’re defending football and its ethics."
What football stars thought of the U-turn
A number of football stars have shared their opinion on the events that have unfolded in wake of Balogun's red card.
Wayne Rooney was on punditry duty for the BBC for the coverage of England's remarkable win over Mexico and didn't hold back when the conversation turned to Balogun's lucky reprieve.
"I think it's an absolute disgrace, I really do," the Manchester United icon said. "I know it's UEFA, but I got a three-game ban before Euro 2012. I was due to miss the three group games and I got told if I went over to Switzerland and did a training session with a bunch of kids, my third game would get taken off. I agreed to do it because I didn't want a three-game ban, but I thought that was wrong."
Rooney then turned his ire to FIFA president Infantino: "For this to be suspended, they either take the red card away, which is probably the right decision, and then he can play.
"But to suspend it for a year? I think it's an absolute disgrace. Infantino should be ashamed of this. The sportsmanship of this game is in question here. If I'm USA's opponent, I'd be absolutely fuming. It's wrong in every way."
Former England star-turned pundit Gary Neville also weighed in on the decision.
Speaking during ITV’s World Cup coverage, Neville said: “It absolutely stinks, let’s be really clear.
“But what I would say, the thing that stinks the most is there should be a review process in place because I actually didn’t think it was a red card.
“I think there should be a process which allows it to be overturned, but if there’s no process for it to be overturned and then somehow FIFA, from nowhere, have decided to basically let a player play… and the rules are the same for everybody. I would be absolutely raging if I was Belgium and every other team in the tournament that’s had a player sent off that might think it’s a little bit hard done by.”
Olivia Burke