2026 World Cup / FIFA: Belgian federation "will continue to pursue the case (Balogun) off the pitch"

"The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) is convinced that international football must be governed by a disciplinary and governance framework fully compliant with the principles of legal certainty, transparency, equal treatment and fair play. It will continue to pursue the ongoing case with FIFA off the pitch," the federation said on 7 July 2026.

The statement was issued the day after Belgium’s 4-1 victory over the United States in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup in Seattle, Washington (USA), on 6 July 2026 (local time).

United States striker Folarin Balogun played in the match despite having been sent off after receiving a straight red card for stamping on an opponent’s ankle during the previous match, United States and Bosnia (2-0, in San Francisco, on 2 July 2026).

• He…