Belgium’s football federation says it is “astonished” by FIFA’s decision to overturn a red card shown to Folarin Balogun, according to statements reported by multiple outlets. The Royal Belgian Football Association says the ruling is surprising and states it is investigating “all potential options.” The federation’s reaction follows FIFA’s reversal of the suspension that had been imposed on Balogun after the incident during Belgium’s match at the tournament.
As described in the reports, Balogun had been shown a red card during Belgium’s round-of-32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina after a VAR review. The original red-card decision meant he was scheduled to miss Belgium’s round-of-16 match against Belgium’s next opponent, which was not disputed in the coverage. The Belgian FA’s statement also signals it may pursue further action, with one report noting the possibility of legal steps. Overall, the federation’s public response focuses on its surprise at FIFA’s reversal and its intent to examine available next steps.
