Belgium appeals Balogun's red card revocation

The Belgium soccer team is appealing FIFA's decision to suspend a penalty imposed against U.S. player Folarin Balogun ahead of their match with the U.S.

Balogun received a red card and one-game suspension during the U.S. match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, which FIFA later reviewed and invalidated, ostensibly at the request of President Donald Trump.

In a Monday statement, the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said that FIFA had upended the penalty through an irregular process that made it harder to challenge the decision, according to the New York Times.

“For an appeal to be admissible, FIFA’s own regulations state that the reasoned decision must first have been communicated to the appellant," RBFA said in a statement. "While the RBFA was merely seeking legitimate explanations, FIFA itself created an appeal and immediately ensured that it would be declared inadmissible."

Balogun is widely regarded as one of the best U.S. players, and his presence or absence could significantly impact the upcoming match.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.