what the bel USA could be THROWN OUT of World Cup if Balogun plays despite Fifa ban backing as Belgium ‘leave all actions open’

BELGIUM are ready to ask sport’s ultimate court to BOOT the USA out of the World Cup if they lose to a team including Folarin Balogun on Tuesday.

The Red Devils are furious after Donald Trump’s personal intervention saw Fifa rip up their own rulebook to allow former Arsenal striker Balogun to feature against them in the Seattle last-16 clash despite his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Belgium’s indignation went off the scale even further when a Fifa committee ruled their protest “inadmissible” because they were NOT a party to the original decision.

And Brussels FA chiefs gave the US team a blatant warning that they will be prepared to go nuclear and demand the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne kick America out of the World Cup if Balogun plays.

Confirming its appeal against Balogun’s clearance to play had been rejected, Belgium said: “To date, the Royal Belgian FA has still not received any grounds for this decision, nor has it received the information it has been requesting since the start of this procedure.

“Fifa has yet to provide us with a copy of the decision and the motivation declaring the player eligible as well as the referee’s report – this is a breach of Fifa regulations.

“The RBFA has informed the United States Soccer Federation that it contests the eligibility of the player, should the player be listed on the referee’s team sheet. This leaves all further actions open.”

As refusing to play if Balogun is selected would lead to a forfeit, Belgium have indicated their likely actions.

CAS has the ability to hold an expedited hearing over the next 48 hours and make a final decision before the scheduled quarter-final date in Los Angeles on Friday.

Belgium will argue that the USMNT had fielded an ineligible player under Fifa’s regulations – that a player receiving a red card must have a mandatory minimum one game suspension.

Therefore, that would mean, under Fifa rules, the result would HAVE to be reversed with Belgium awarded a 3-0 win.

The threat comes after Uefa went to war with Fifa chief Gianni Infantino by branding the card sanction U-turn “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”

Euro bosses were backed by Norway FA President Lisa Klaveness, who said: “We agree with Uefa’s position that an automatic suspension of at least one match following a red card is not subject to subsequent discretionary review.

“There is reason for concern regarding the integrity of the competition, political interference in sporting matters, and the credibility of football.”

And it was none of those things. I really don’t care about your faggoty little game anyway and now my interest in it is completely over with the USA out.

Balogun hit the opposing player with his cleats.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hxTXnj610QQ

That is a serious foul and dangerous play, and always has been as far back as I go. I lived in Europe for twenty years and caught my first World Cup in 1970 when Pele was playing for Brazil. For several years I worked alongside Brits, one of whom was a football referee who schooled inquisitive Yanks on the rules of the game, in particular yellow cards, red cards, and the offsides rule. In my 56 years of following the World Cup, Sunday was the first time I ever heard of intent being being an element of an offense.

It appears this was the first time that an automatic one game suspension following a red card sendoff was rescinded. A previous similar case was in 1962, and involved then Brazilian star Garrincha who was sent off in the semi-final. At that time there was no automatic one-game suspension, but the FIFA disciplinary committee had to meet to decide whether to impose a suspension. They chose not to issue a suspension and Garrincha played in the final which Brazil won. Subsequently, a rules change imposed an automatic one game suspension.

The USMNT is not, and never has been, an elite team in the world of international soccer. The elite teams of the world are still simply better. The best athletes in the United States are not playing soccer. The USMNT is not exactly improving by leaps and bounds. Landon Donovan said that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzcSsqfBMDU

Landon Donovan on Why America Can't Produce Soccer Stars

My brother and I wewre both soccer refs and we both agree that a red, with a minimum 1-day suspension was legit. My brother refereed for about 35 yrs and I for six yrs. He refereed some friendly international matches (by country) and I was the linesman for a Concaacaf match and proud of it.

Kudos to the USA for reaching the round of 16.

Take care.

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