Soccer
Rudi Garcia referred to FIFA’s decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s one-game ban as something seen on “April Fool’s Day” ahead of their last-16 tie at the World Cup.
Belgium face the United States at Seattle Stadium for a spot in the quarter-finals, with the co-hosts boosted by the controversial return of striker Balogun.
During their clash against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the first round of the knockout stages, Balogun was sent off for a tackle down the back of defender Tarik Muharemovic’s leg.
He became the fourth player to score a goal and be sent off in a World Cup knockout match, though FIFA confirmed Balogun’s ban would be suspended for one year.
“I didn’t know that at the FIFA World Cup the fifth of July is now the first of April, and it’s April Fool’s Day,” Garcia told reporters.
He referred to a statement issued by the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA), which said it was “astonished” by FIFA’s decision and was “investigating all potential options”.
“It was a discovery for me. I think we have to refer to the communication of my federation, the Belgian federation. I think a lot of things are in there,” Garcia continued.
“The Belgian federation doesn’t defend itself, it doesn’t defend the national team, it defends football in general. It defends its integrity; it defends its ethics.
“I think it’s the first time in the history of the World Cup that there is this kind of decision.”
RBFA Statement Regarding Folarin Balogunhttps://t.co/GlLQpSx2SS pic.twitter.com/xA3kMvn0U0
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) July 5, 2026
FIFA did, however, explain the reasoning behind their decision in a statement of their own.
“In line with article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,” the statement read.
“If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked, and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”
FIFA’s decision was welcome news to President Donald Trump, as his nation looks to win their first last-16 match at the World Cup since a 2-0 win over Mexico in 2002.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP,” he wrote in a statement on social media.
Garcia was asked for his response to Trump’s comments, but insisted that his full focus remained on the task at hand, which was to beat the USA.
“We have to improve; we can improve our consistency during the game,” Garcia added.
“We must reach the Belgian level that I am expecting from the kick-off to the final whistle. We need to be more consistent for the 90 minutes.”
Belgium have won each of their last three World Cup matches against Concacaf nations, one more than across their prior six combined (W2 D1 L3).
Their only match against opponents from that region in the knockout stages was a 2-1 victory over the USA in the round of 16 in 2014.
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