FIFA has dismissed Belgium’s challenge over the eligibility of Folarin Balogun after the world soccer governing body decided to suspend his one-game ban ahead of the World Cup round-of-16 game with the United States.
Despite being dismissed against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the USMNT striker is available to face Belgium in Seattle on Monday night after an intervention involving U.S. President Donald Trump, government officials, U.S. Soccer and an extensive legal team.
Belgium formally objected to that decision saying it had “no alternative but to challenge (Balogun’s) eligibility for the upcoming match”.
FIFA’s appeals committee, however, has rendered the request submitted by the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) as “inadmissible”. They did so on the grounds that “the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision,” a statement from FIFA said.
In response the RBFA acknowledged receipt of the decision before indicating “further actions” were still open to the federation.
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