Belgium is not happy with FIFA's decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's red card, allowing the U.S striker to play in Monday night's Round of 16 game in Seattle.
The Royal Belgian Football Association released a statement on FIFA's ruling on Sunday, expressing extreme frustration.
"After learning through media reports of FIFA’s decision to lift the automatic suspension of player Balogun, the RBFA sent a letter to FIFA requesting a copy of the decision, an explanation of the process that had been followed, and setting out its position regarding the applicable regulations," the RBFA explained.
"As its only response, FIFA sent a letter to the RBFA stating that it considered this correspondence to constitute an appeal, that a judge had been appointed, and that the RBFA had only a few hours to complete that appeal. No information whatsoever was provided by FIFA.
"For an appeal to be admissible, FIFA’s own regulations state that the reasoned decision must first have been communicated to the appellant. While the RBFA was merely seeking legitimate explanations, FIFA itself created an appeal and immediately ensured that it would be declared inadmissible."
Belgium ultimately did file an official appeal, though it was rejected.
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Balogun will be eligible to play on Monday night.
However, U.S. soccer analyst Taylor Twellman is urging manager Mauricio Pochettino to sit his star striker, as a power move.
Twellman offers solution to the controversy
Despite being ruled eligible, Twellman thinks that Balogun could be sat in a power move.
"Wouldn't it be awesome if Poch.....doesn't play Balogun and sets the tone from the start that they can win without him. See if I was on Belgium or the manager of them I'd be using this in a positive way for my group......not this!!! Nagelsmann was complaining about the schedule before Paraguay....then what?" he shared.
That's most likely not going to happen.
Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. E.T. on Monday night.
