JAKARTA - Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said he thought it was a joke when he first heard the news that suspended United States (US) striker Folarin Balogun was allowed to play in the round of 16 on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, WIB.
Meanwhile, the Belgian Football Federation (The Royal Belgian Football Association) announced that they were investigating all potential options to challenge FIFA's surprising decision.
"I didn't know that in the 2026 World Cup, July 5, 2026 is actually April 1 - it's April Fool's Day," Garcia said at a press conference.
He added that the long statement from the Belgian Football Federation - which highlighted the unprecedented nature of FIFA's decision as well as how it contradicted FIFA's own guidelines issued before the tournament regarding automatic suspensions for any player who receives a red card - was not just about protecting Belgium.
"We are not defending the Belgian national team or the Belgian Football Federation. We are defending football," Garcia said.
Balogun was sent off the pitch as the United States beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 in the last 32 due to a tackle that was initially not punished by the referee on the pitch, but ended in a red card after a video review. A one-match ban is the standard minimum penalty for any player who receives a red card.
However, on Sunday, July 5, 2026, local time, FIFA announced that Balogun would receive, in essence, a probationary period. His sentence was adjusted and he was allowed to play in the round of 16 match against Belgium.
"If it had been done earlier, maybe we would have been more mentally prepared. Fortunately, we still have other training. However, we will be ready. We will be on the field. They have 11 players, not just Balogun," said Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Courtois further put vigilance on the US attack line and saw that Balogun's presence could affect Belgium's defense.
"He (Balogun) is a very fast striker. Maybe his profile is different from (Ricardo) Pepi. They have a lot of quality in the front line," said Courtois.
Garcia and Courtois largely avoided many other questions about Balogun's decision, referring reporters to a statement from the Belgian Football Federation which expressed surprise at the move and called it in direct contradiction to the rules set by FIFA itself for the 2026 World Cup.
When asked if Belgium might appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) - perhaps even after the match - Garcia refused.
"We want to focus on the sports issue," he said.
Meanwhile, criticism of FIFA's decision also came from Norwegian coach Stale Solbakken, after his team's victory over Brazil in the round of 16 on Monday, July 6, 2026, early in the morning WIB.
"I think it's a big mistake by FIFA. It's not a good conclusion. He got a red card, VAR concluded it was a red card and he was sent off. So, that means he's suspended for one match."
"The Belgians will be angry. What happens if he scores the winning goal? What happens with the next red card?"
"Will there be a committee somewhere to revoke the red card? That's a very, very, very bad decision for the 2026 World Cup."
"I feel sorry for the US because if they win, the result will always be seen like that," Solbakken said.
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