Belgium Coach Slams FIFA's Balogan Ban Suspension
Belgium coach Rudy García blasted FIFA for suspending striker Florian Balogan's match ban, calling the decision an "April Fool's joke" ahead of Belgium's Round of 16 clash against the United States on July 6.
Belgium head coach Rudy García has criticized FIFA's decision to suspend Florian Balogan's match ban, saying it feels like an "April Fool's joke." Balogan received a red card during the 2026 World Cup Round of 32 match when the United States defeated Bosnia 2-0. After the referee reviewed VAR footage of his collision with Tarik Muharemović, the contact was deemed dangerous play. Normally, the 25-year-old striker would face an automatic suspension from the next match. However, FIFA recently announced that Balogan's ban would be suspended and converted to a one-year provisional ban instead, allowing the forward to play in the Round of 16 match between the United States and Belgium on July 6. The Belgian Football Association subsequently expressed shock at FIFA's ruling, stating it clearly violates the regulations and that they are investigating other possible avenues to pursue the matter. García remarked, "I don't know how today, July 5th at the World Cup, has turned into April Fool's Day on April 1st. We're not defending our national team or our football association—we're defending football itself."
