US star Folarin Balogun has been cleared to play in his team’s crucial World Cup round of 16 game after FIFA rejected an appeal by the Belgian FA.
The World Cup sparked controversy on Sunday after it emerged that Donald Trump had called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review the one-match ban handed to USA star Balogun following a red card during their win over Bosnia on July 1.
Moments after Sunday’s announcement, President Trump, who has become close friends with Infantino, wrote: ‘Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP.’
White House sources confirmed to the Daily Mail that Trump reached out to Infantino, ahead of FIFA’s decision to suspend the ban, before the President confirmed the news himself at a Monday press conference.
However, while Trump and millions of USA fans across the country celebrated the one-game ban suspension, the Belgian FA were left furious over the matter and launched an appeal to FIFA shortly after the news was announced.
On Monday morning, the Belgian Football Association learned the outcome of its appeal after FIFA confirmed that its request had been rejected.
In a statement, the Belgian FA said: ‘The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has received the decision of the FIFA Appeal Committee, signed by its member Mr Salman Al-Ansari, which declares the RBFA’s case inadmissible and confirms the earlier decision allowing United States player Folarin Balogun to play.
‘To date, the RBFA has still not received any grounds for this decision, nor has it received the information it has been requesting since the start of this procedure id est a copy of the decision and the motivation declaring the player eligible as well as the referee’s report. Which is a breach of FIFA regulations.
They added that: ‘The RBFA has informed the United States Soccer Federation that it contests the eligibility of the player, should the player be listed on the referee’s team sheet. This leaves all further actions open.’