Posted on 07/05/2026 6:34:23 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
After the Royal Belgian Football Association released a 283-word statement saying it was “astonished” at Folarin Balogun’s reinstatement, manager Rudi Garcia compared it to April Fools’ Day at his pre-match press conference.
“I didn’t know that July 5 was equal to April 1 at FIFA,” Garcia said in French, through an interpreter.
“We’re not defending the national team or federation,” Garcia continued. “We’re defending in football. … It’s the first time in World Cup history that such a decision is taken. I am a head coach, I will focus on my team, on tomorrow’s game. Regardless of the 11 starting players from the U.S., I will focus on my team.”
Garcia and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois attempted in vain to keep questions focused on the match itself, but all anyone wanted to talk about was Balogun.
The RBFA statement cited a series of FIFA bylaws, and said the federation “is investigating all potential options.”
While it’s unclear exactly what that might entail, Garcia was asked whether an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport was a possibility, even if it were to take place after Monday’s game.
“Do not waste your time talking about this,” Garcia said. “I am the head coach of the Belgian national team. He [Courtois] is the player. If you have any sporting questions, football questions, we’ll happily answer them.”
Courtois, the veteran goalkeeper who started against the USMNT in the Round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup — one of three Belgian players this year who did so, along with Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku — insisted that Balogun’s reentry into the lineup would change nothing.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
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Looked like true grit to me. :-)
Huzzah!
England fans are sneaking out of there as fast as they can.
I am so glad Mexico is out.
finally we can stop hearing about how great for Mexico this historic stadium in Mexico City is.
just another stadium
We’re the last host standing.
The reason it’s hard for other teams to win there isn’t just the altitude. The players and their teams are often sabotaged with tainted food/water, not to mention the disgusting things that are thrown at the teams by the fans.
England vs Norway in Florida on July 11 will be epic.
Yay!
Can’t wait for that. Go Norway!
We will have to tape that game. A friend’s daughter is getting married, and we should be at the reception having dinner around that time.
England hung on with quiet desperation.
Wish I'd something more to say...
Folarin Balogun? What country is he from?
Effing classic!!! Love that!
Do you have to be a citizen of the country you’re playing for?
David Gilmour and Roger Waters are both Arsenal fans, despite using Liverpool crowd chants in “Fearless”.
I didn’t see it, but my son explained. He said they both were going after the ball and their legs got tangled up. There was no call or foul in real time by a ref. Later, (much later, after the game iirc) the slow motion showed the American’s cleats scraping the legs (ankles?) of the opponent. My son was pissed, saying that the rules don’t allow using slow motion, and that regardless, it was unintentional.
Yes, but many players are naturalized citizens. For example, most of the 2026 Morocco squad were born in France.
He was born in the NYC to Nigerian parents who raised him in Britain. He is apparently a citizen of all 3 countries.
The red card didn’t come after the game. It was issued after the VAR review in the second half. When the ref looked at the slowed down motion/stills of the play, he issued a red card. Balogan was looking away when he was landing, so it wasn’t intentional at all. The worst it should’ve been was a yellow card.
lol sounds like Belgium is afraid they might lose if it’s fair and square..I don’t know much about soccer but seriously getting suspended a game for stepping on someone’s foot please get over it
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