Head coach Rudi Garcia vows team will “defend football” when they face USA
Belgium have criticised Fifa’s decision to make Folarin Balogun available for USA’s World Cup last-16 tie.
Fifa confirmed on Sunday that Balogun’s one-match suspension had been lifted under Article 27 of its disciplinary code, allowing the striker to face Belgium despite his straight red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The ruling came less than 24 hours before the knockout match in Seattle.
Belgian coach Rudi Garcia dismissed the decision as damaging to football’s credibility after a Fifa media officer read out the statement announcing the reversal before Belgium’s pre-match press conference.
“I didn’t know that 5 July was equal to 1 April [April Fools’ Day] at Fifa,” Garcia said. “I think we should refer to the [statement] of my federation, the Belgian federation. I think a lot of things are in it. The federation does not defend itself, it does not defend the national team – it defends football in general. It defends its integrity. It defends its ethics.”
The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was “astonished” by Fifa’s decision and questioned the governing body’s interpretation of its disciplinary rules.
“The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) is astonished by Fifa’s decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play,” the federation said.
“In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options.”
Fifa relied on Article 27 of its disciplinary code to suspend the implementation of Balogun’s ban while leaving the red card on his disciplinary record. The same provision was previously used to make Cristiano Ronaldo eligible for Portugal’s opening World Cup match after suspension for a red card during a qualifying game against Ireland.
The decision also drew criticism from other teams than Belgium. Norway manager Stale Solbakken described the ruling as a mistake after his side’s victory over Brazil in the last 16.
“It is a big mistake by Fifa,” Solbakken said. “It is not a great conclusion. He got a red card and the VAR concluded that it was a red card. That means you are suspended for one game.
“I think what is really bad about that situation is, if the USA beat Belgium, they will always have that extra thing about it. The Belgians will be furious. What about the next red card? What happens there? Will some committee take it away? It’s a bad, bad, bad, bad decision that will hurt the World Cup and the United States.”
