The Belgian press attacks Fifa for enabling the US striker.

Home Sport The Belgian press attacks Fifa for enabling the US striker.
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July 6, 2026July 6, 2026By Mario Vásquez
The Belgian press attacks Fifa for enabling the US striker.

The Belgian press reacted harshly this Monday to the decision of the Fifa to suspend the sanction on American forward Folarin Balogun, qualifying him for the match against Belgium in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

Media in the European country have dubbed the controversy as “Balogun Gate”, speak of a “strange match aroma” and question the impartiality of the governing body of world football and its president, Gianni Infantino.

The controversy intensified after the publication of The New York Times, which revealed that FIFA’s decision came after a call from the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to Infantino. This version has occupied the main covers in Belgium.

in the diary Le Soirjournalist Frédéric Larsimont stated that the Fifa “has just put its impartiality on sale” by lifting the sanction of the American top scorer on the eve of a key match.

“The beneficiary is not a substitute for a minor team. “It is the main offensive weapon of the host country,” the analyst stressed, in an article titled “Balogun, Trump and FIFA: the aroma of a strange game”.

For his part, Vicente Langendries, of the French-speaking public radio television RTBF, pointed out that the situation reflects a worrying closeness between Fifa and the American political power.

“The collusion—if nothing else—between the president of Fifa and the tenant of the White House has reached the height of absurdity, even shame,” he stated.

The commentator even anticipated international support for Belgium and closed with a phrase full of irony: “Let’s make Belgium great again!”, in reference to Trump’s political motto.

In the flamenco newspaper Standardjournalist Bart Lagae maintained that the decision came “totally unexpectedly” and that both FIFA and Infantino “have unmasked themselves” at a key moment in the tournament.

Meanwhile, the Belgian Football Federation is analyzing possible legal actions after what happened, in the prelude to a high-voltage match whose winner will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of the duel between Spain and Portugal.

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