Folarin Balogun’s playing status for USA vs. Belgium encounters appeal problem originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Folarin Balogun suspension question might not be fully answered yet.
After FIFA ruled on Sunday that the United States striker wouldn’t have to serve his one-match red-card ban in Monday’s Round of 16 game against Belgium, there’s been an appeal. Belgium is pushing back.
It was a surprise decision by FIFA in the first place to essentially go against its own red-card rules and give Balogun a path to play.
The USMNT wasn’t complaining, of course, but Belgium certainly had the right to be upset.
Now, according to The Athletic’s Adam Crafton, an appeal process is underway.
“Belgium & U.S. have till 5am Monday PST to make any submissions – to be heard by rep from FIFA appeals committee – as Belgium continue to fight ruling,” Crafton wrote.
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It’s not immediately clear what various outcomes could come out of this.
There was also a suggestion by some subsequent reporting that FIFA could hear this appeal but not actually reach a verdict before Monday’s game kicks off — which certainly wouldn’t be of much help to Belgium.
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Is Folarin Balogun playing vs. Belgium?
As of first thing Monday morning, Balogun is eligible to play based on FIFA’s ruling on Sunday.
That could still change if Belgium wins its appeal on Monday.
All the moving parts make this an odd day for the U.S. lineup plans for the World Cup Round of 16, but Balogun is important enough to the attack that it’s worth dealing with the added stress.
It’s unclear when a totally final decision will come out. In some sense, it’ll basically come down to whether Balogun is on the pitch at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. in Seattle) for the kickoff. That’s when everyone will know for sure.
