Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot is pictured at the Antwerp World Diamond Centre, in Antwerp, Belgium on June 18, 2026.Tom Goyvaerts /BELGA MAG/ Belga/AFP via Getty Images

‘Incomprehensible decision’: Belgian minister slams FIFA’s U-turn on US red card – POLITICO

06 Jul 2026, 09:00 · POLITICO

Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot criticized FIFA over its decision to overturn a one-match suspension for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun ahead of the team’s World Cup match against Belgium.

“As a former football referee, I have always been committed to upholding the rules and ensuring decisions are fair. This decision clearly raises many questions,” Prévot told POLITICO in a statement.

Balogun received a red card during the U.S.’s victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which translated into removal from the game and a routine one-match suspension that would keep him out of a must-win encounter against Belgium.