FIFA Rejects Belgium's Appeal, Allowing Folarin Balogun to Play

FIFA on Monday announced it has rejected the Royal Belgian Football Association, RBFA's appeal, and would allow a striker, Fuller and Balogun, to play in Monday's World Cup match between the U.S. and Belgium. 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, the agency said. Balogun received a red card while the U.S. was playing Bosnia and Herzegovina on the 1st of July for stepping on the ankle of Tarek Muharremovic as the two battled for the ball, which Balogun insisted was unintentional. FIFA rules state that a red card recipient is automatically suspended for the next game. However, FIFA announced the 5th of July that it had decided to delay the ban for one year and won't implement it unless Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during that period of time. Belgium appealed against that decision. President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that he called FIFA's president Gianni Infantino about the red card and asked for a review. Infantino publicly clarified that he didn't play a role in the FIFA disciplinary committee's decision regarding Balogun. The U.S. and Belgium are set to clash in the World Cup's round of 16 for a quarterfinal slot later on Monday.