Belgium freaks out after FIFA lets US striker Folarin Balogun play in World Cup knockout match

WASHINGTON — The Belgians aren’t waffling about this.The Brussels government blasted international soccer’s governing body FIFA Monday after it cleared the way for star US striker Folarin Balogun to face Belgium in the World Cup’s round of 16.“As a former football referee, I have always been committed to upholding the rules and ensuring decisions are fair.This decision clearly raises many questions,” Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot fumed to Politico.Brooklyn-born Balogun received a red card in the second half of the 2-0 US victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 July 1, a sanction that typically carries a one-match ban.

However, US Soccer maintained that Brazilian referee Raphael Claus and the video assistant referee, Juan Soto of Veneuzela, improperly applied replay protocols to punish Balogun.The controversy even reached President Trump, who called FIFA boss Gianni Infantino for an explanation of Balogun’s penalty.On Sunday, FIFA announced that Balogun’s one-match ban had been suspended for one year, freeing the striker to play in Monday night’s game in Seattle.The rare disciplinary decision boosted the US, who would reach the quarterfinals of the world’s biggest sporting event for the first time since 2002 with a win.“If it really was a phone call [by Trump] that led to this incomprehensible decision, that would amount to undermining the most basic rules of football and sport,” added Prevot.Early Monday, the Royal Belgian Football Association confirmed it was appealing FIFA’s decision, saying it had “no alternative.”“Regardless of the sporting outcome of this match, the RBFA is deeply concerned by the course of events and will continue to fight in the coming hours, days and months in defence of the fundamental principles of ethics, fair competition, and the interests of football as a whole,” the group said in a statement.The appeal will be heard by a FIFA member who does not represent a country in either...