New York, July 6, (dpa/GNA) – US striker Folarin Balogun, is free to play against Belgium in the World Cup last 16 later on Monday, after FIFA said it had rejected a Belgian appeal.
Balogun was sent off in the last round, triggering an automatic one-game ban, but FIFA suspended the ban in a near unprecedented move so he could play against Belgium, who appealed.
However, FIFA said in a statement, “The FIFA Appeal Committee has rendered a request submitted by the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) as inadmissible in relation to the FIFA Disciplinary Committeeās decision, to suspend for one year the match suspension imposed on United States national-team player Folarin Balogun. “The request was rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision.”
GNA