Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot stated on Monday that FIFA's decision to suspend the red card received by American forward Folarin Balogun at the 2026 World Cup is "incomprehensible," while questioning the role of political intervention by U.S. President Donald Trump in the case.
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"If a phone call is indeed what explains this incomprehensible decision, then it means the most basic rules of football and sports have been violated," Prévot said in a statement released by his media office.
He added: "This would be a very serious matter. How can FIFA continue to talk about fair play with any credibility?" his remarks coming just hours before Belgium faces the United States in the World Cup Round of 16.
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) had also stated that FIFA "crossed a red line" with its controversial decision to suspend the execution of the one-match ban for the U.S. national team forward Folarin Balogun, placing it on a one-year probation instead.
FIFA's decision, which followed an intervention by U.S. President Donald Trump, clears Balogun to feature for the United States against Belgium in the Round of 16 match scheduled for later on Monday.
"Yesterday’s decision to suspend the execution of the automatic one-match ban resulting from the red card received by player Folarin Balogun, placing it under a one-year probationary period, has crossed a red line," UEFA said in a statement.
AFP
