Belgian Officials React as FIFA Reverses U.S. Player’s Suspension

Belgian officials voiced shock and outrage after FIFA announced on Sunday that it had rescinded a one‑match suspension for a star U.S. soccer player ahead of the World Cup clash with Belgium.

The move followed a call by President Trump to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, urging a review of the suspension handed to Folarin Balogun, the United States’ leading goal scorer in the tournament. Balogun had been sent off after a clash with an opponent during the U.S. win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday.

Maxime Prévot, Belgium’s foreign minister and former referee, said the decision called into question FIFA’s stated commitment to fair play.

“This decision raises numerous questions,” Prévot said in a statement on Monday. “If a mere phone call is the basis for such an incomprehensible ruling, it threatens the fundamental principles of soccer and sport.”

The Royal Belgian Football Association issued a statement saying it was “astonished” by the decision and “investigating all potential options.”

FIFA’s decision — unusual for world soccer’s governing body — offers a boost to the U.S. side ahead of its Monday, 8 p.m. Round of 16 match against Belgium. Infantino has sought favor with Trump, and last year presented him with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize amid Trump’s public, though ultimately unsuccessful, campaign for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Trump has done little to quell concerns that political pressure influenced Balogun’s abrupt reversal. He praised the outcome on Truth Social Sunday night, though he neither confirmed a call with Infantino nor claimed credit.

“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice,” Trump wrote.

The White House released a statement confirming that Trump and Infantino had spoken about the red card and adding that “the correct and proper outcome was achieved” after an independent review. It noted that the U.S. government had supplied information for the process but declined to disclose details of their conversation.

U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Bill White defended FIFA’s decision in an X post on Monday, stating, “President Trump would never interfere with the inner workings of FIFA.”

European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, said in a statement that FIFA’s reversal “crossed a red line,” describing it as “an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.”

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the episode raised serious questions about the organization and Infantino, who has already faced ethics complaints for openly courting Trump.

“Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls; they are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies,” he posted on X.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever asked on Monday for comment on FIFA’s decision, referring inquiries to an Instagram post attributed to his cat.

“Red card?” the post says in Dutch. “I’m going to play anyway!”

Reporting by Jeanna Smialek and Koba Ryckewaert from Brussels.

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