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Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot criticized FIFA over its decision to overturn a one-match suspension for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun ahead of the team’s World Cup match against Belgium.
“As a former football referee, I have always been committed to upholding the rules and ensuring decisions are fair. This decision clearly raises many questions,” Prévot told POLITICO in a statement.
Balogun received a red card during the U.S.’s victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which translated into removal from the game and a routine one-match suspension that would keep him out of a must-win encounter against Belgium.
But after U.S. President Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday, the suspension was revoked. FIFA declined to confirm any specific discussions but reiterated to POLITICO that an independent disciplinary committee had decided to suspend the one-match ban.
