'Overturn this' - Belgium mock Trump and FIFA after USA World Cup exit

The USA's World Cup dream came to an end in Seattle as Belgium cruised into the last eight with a 4-1 victory; Charles De Ketelaere scored twice in the first half, while Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku added further goals after the break to book a quarter-final meeting with Spain

>Belgium players appeared to mock US President Donald Trump and FIFA after eliminating co-hosts USA from the World Cup.

>The PR circus surrounding FIFA's decision to rescind Folarin Balogun's red card and Donald Trump's involvement in the supposedly independent process had dominated the headlines ahead of the last-16 clash in Seattle. However, it appeared only to galvanise Belgium as they thrashed USA 4-1 to book a quarter-final with Spain.

>And Belgium revelled in the victory, with several players mimicking Donald Trump's trademark dance moves after their fourth goal, while the team's official X account also mocked the US President and FIFA by responding to Balogun's overturned ban with the post: "Overturn this."

>Overturn this. 🧏‍♂️ #USABEL pic.twitter.com/KcBAJp3Z7d

>Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin said his team felt a "sense of injustice" after their thumping win.

>"A lot has happened off the pitch over the last two days," Raskin said.

>"There was a sense of injustice within the squad, and we were determined to respond on the field."

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>Belgium captain Youri Tielemans also insisted the build up to the game had boosted his side.

>Balogun reprieve ends in anti-climax as Belgium dump USA out

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>"We told ourselves we had to respond on the pitch. That's what we did," he said.

>Trump has confirmed he personally asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to "review" United States striker Folarin Balogun's World Cup red card.

>The world governing body announced on Sunday that the automatic one-match ban for Balogun's dismissal against Bosnia and Herzegovina had been suspended, with the Americans' last-16 opponents, Belgium, appealing - unsuccessfully - against the decision.

>On Monday, UEFA said FIFA had "crossed a red line" and had put the "integrity of the game at stake" in allowing Balogun to play against Belgium.

>But FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the independence of FIFA's disciplinary committee.

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>Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia revealed that Balogun "came to talk" after the game.

>Garcia said: "I really liked that. It's not his fault, he's not the one to blame and that's what I told him."

>Asked if the controversy impacted his team, Garcia added: "Regardless of the US starting line-up, what really mattered to us is our game plan.

>"The group is very mature. I told them what matters the most is us."

>Speaking after USA's defeat to Belgium, Folarin Balogun said:

"I accepted the decision when I was given the red card, and I accepted the decision when I was told I was allowed to play.

"I didn't have any involvement in the process, and that's not something that has anything to do with me personally."

>Mauricio Pochettino admitted his disappointment at the "politics and manipulation" which overshadowed the United States' World Cup exit.

>Asked afterwards if the outcry the decision sparked had affected he and his players, USA head coach Pochettino told the BBC: "It didn't affect our performance. It's not an excuse. It wasn't our day.

>"But in a personal way, what is the point to insult or receive a lot of bad messages?

>"It's a rule for the federation to apply and to try [to overturn the ban]. My position was to train the team. If Balogun is available because FIFA allow for you to have the player, it's not a problem.

>"I feel disappointed with too many people. They put politics and manipulation, talk about ethics and integrity [first]. If we talk about the history of this game, I am disappointed in a personal way."

>Like his manager, USA defender Tim Ream refused to use the Balogun situation as an excuse.

>Speaking to reporters after the final whistle, he said: "No, it had no impact. We've done a good job with this group of allowing outside noise to be outside noise. It's got nothing to do with us as players and getting ready for games.

>"It's one of those things. That's the world we live in. We were fully focused on us as a group and as a team and fully focused on the game and not really worrying about what was being said or debated in the outside world."

>Meanwhile, FIFA president Infantino is facing calls to resign over the decision to allow Balogun to play against Belgium.

>"Infantino must go," said Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey. "No matter where it is held, the World Cup belongs to the fans."

>Resigning is not something which has crossed Infantino's mind. He has been president for 10 years and he will stand for re-election next year.

>He is almost guaranteed to win a new four-year term because he already has the votes he needs to win. The African, Asian and South American football confederations are all backing him again.

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>FIFA's president is elected by its 211 member associations. Asia, Africa and South America have 111 votes.

>Infantino is likely to be the only candidate which would mean he will be clapped back into office by acclamation.

>Infantino has been flying around the US, Canada and Mexico watching as many World Cup games as possible in a jet provided by Qatar Airways.

>FIFA say their disciplinary committee is independent and Infantino was not involved in the decision to suspend Balogun's automatic one-match ban.

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