Belgium answer controversy on the pitch

Belgium turned a week of controversy into a statement performance in Seattle.

The Red Devils beat the United States 4-1 in the round of 16, ending the co-hosts’ World Cup campaign and moving into the quarter-finals.

According to SPORTbible, Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, while Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku also found the net for Belgium.

Folarin Balogun started for the United States, but he was unable to influence the match after days of debate over whether he should have been allowed to play at all.

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FIFA decision angered Belgium

The controversy began after Balogun was sent off in the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The red card normally triggered an automatic one-match suspension, which would have ruled him out against Belgium. Instead, FIFA suspended the punishment for a one-year probationary period, allowing the Monaco striker to start the knockout match.

According to AP, the decision followed a phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, with Trump asking for the case to be reviewed.

Belgium challenged Balogun’s eligibility, but FIFA dismissed the appeal because the Belgian federation was not considered a party to the original disciplinary case.

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“We are defending football”

Before kick-off, Garcia was openly critical of FIFA’s handling of the case.

He said the issue was not only about Belgium, but about the credibility of the competition.

“I didn’t know that at the World Cup, the 5th of July is actually the first of April, it’s April Fools’ Day,” Garcia said.

He added: “We are not defending the national team or the federation, we are defending football with its ethics and integrity.”

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According to The Guardian, UEFA also accused FIFA of crossing “a red line” and described the decision as “incomprehensible and unjustifiable”.

Balogun speaks to Garcia

After the final whistle, the tone between Garcia and Balogun was very different.

The Belgium coach revealed that the American striker came over to speak with him after the match, a gesture Garcia appreciated despite the anger around the case.

“Folarin Balogun came to talk to me,” Garcia said. “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.”

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Balogun also acknowledged the controversy, but said his own focus had been on the game.

“When that decision’s overturned, of course it’s going to be controversial,” he said. “So for me, it’s something that it didn’t really surprise me too much. But as a player, my job is just to go out there and focus on my job.”

A case that will linger

Belgium had the final word on the pitch, but the wider debate is unlikely to disappear quickly.

After the match, Belgium’s social media account posted a picture of Lukaku with the caption: “Overturn this.” The message was a pointed reference to the decision that had dominated the build-up.

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Balogun was allowed to play, but his presence did not change the outcome.

For FIFA, however, the damage may be harder to contain. The case has raised uncomfortable questions about transparency, consistency and political influence at the highest level of the sport.