Folarin Balogun cleared the air with Belgium manager after World Cup red card storm

Belgium boss Rudi Garcia thanked Folarin Balogun for speaking to him following the controversial suspension of his red card ban.

USA star Balogun had been due to sit out his side’s World Cup last-16 clash with Belgium in the early hours of Tuesday morning, having been shown a straight red card in the previous round’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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But the striker was given a reprieve on Sunday after an extraordinary intervention by president Donald Trump, who called FIFA chief Gianni Infantino asking for the sending-off to be reviewed.

Balogun subsequently had his one-match ban suspended for 12 months – sparking widespread outcry, not least once it became clear Trump himself had lobbied FIFA.

The USA went on to lose 4-1 to Belgium in Seattle, following fellow co-hosts Canada and Mexico by exiting their home World Cup in the round of 16.

Garcia appreciative of Balogun gesture

And while he ultimately failed to make an impact on the game, Balogun’s clearance to play had been extremely contentious – not that it was in any way the player’s fault, as Garcia acknowledged when he revealed his conversation with the Monaco man.

As reported by talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs on X, Garcia said: “Flo Balogun came to talk to me. I liked that.

“It’s not his fault. He is not the one to blame and I told him that.

“I appreciate that he came over to talk to me.”

Garcia had previously fumed about the situation, saying in his native French ahead of the USA clash: “I didn’t know that 5 July was equal to 1 April [April Fool’s Day] at FIFA.”

Earlier, the Royal Belgian FA had expressed their bemusement.

Their statement read: “The Royal Belgian Football Association [RBFA] is astonished by FIFA’s decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play.

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“In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options.”

European football’s governing body, UEFA, were also among those to vocally criticise FIFA’s ‘unprecedented’ move to suspend Balogun’s ban.

Their statement read: “When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined.

“Equally, such a decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition.

“We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.”

Belgium’s biggest challenge awaits

While the fallout from this incredible turn of events looks set to rumble on, Belgium are preparing for their third quarter-final in their last four World Cup appearances.

Garcia’s side face their toughest test of the tournament so far when they take on reigning European champions Spain in Los Angeles on Friday.