Belgium 'investigating all potential options' in statement of astonishment after Folarin Balogun red card reversal

Belgium 'investigating all potential options' in statement of astonishment after Folarin Balogun red card reversal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

>Belgium likely felt it had gotten quite fortunate.

>They were set to play the United States in the World Cup Round of 16 with U.S. striker Folarin Balogun sidelined with a one-match suspension for a red card.

>Then on Sunday, FIFA ruled Balogun is actually not suspended. His suspension has been suspended, and so the USMNT will have Balogun on the pitch in whatever capacity they deem fit.

>It's a bad break for Belgium, and it makes sense that they wouldn't be happy.

What did Belgium say?Belgium began its statement on Sunday afternoon by expressing shock:

>"The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) is astonished by FIFA's decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play in the USA–Belgium match on Monday, 6 July at 5:00 p.m. (Seattle time)."

>Belgium's statement then points out the controversy involved here:

>"FIFA bases its decision on Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. This provision states that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may decide to suspend the enforcement of a previously imposed disciplinary sanction. However, Article 66.4 of the same FIFA Disciplinary Code clearly provides that a red card (sending-off) automatically results in a suspension for the team's next match, as has been the case for all previous red cards issued during this FIFA World Cup."

>They also cite World Cup-specific guidelines that express the same match suspension rule for a red card.

>Belgium isn't going to let this one go, finishing the statement like this:

>"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."

>It seems unlikely that FIFA would reverse course on its own reversal, so it's not clear what Belgium might achieve here -- but it's also probably fair for them to feel hard done by this choice.