Belgium manager praises classy gesture by Folarin Balogun after red card controversy: ‘I really liked that’

Belgium manager Rudi Garcia has praised United States forward Folarin Balogun for approaching him after Belgium's 4-1 Round of 16 victory over the U.S. at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Seattle. Balogun had been at the centre of a refereeing controversy: he was originally due to miss the match after a red card in the previous game, but FIFA ruled the day before the fixture that he would be eligible to play. Garcia said he appreciated the gesture and stressed that Balogun was not to blame for the dispute.

The ruling intensified an already heated row, with some arguing that Balogun should not have been sent off in the first place, and Belgium reacting strongly to his reinstatement despite their appeal. The Athletic, which first reported his eligibility, noted FIFA's disciplinary code allows a judicial body to fully or partially suspend a sanction, subject to a probationary period. President Donald Trump admitted he had telephoned FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of the red card. Despite Balogun's availability, the U.S. were heavily beaten and knocked out of their home World Cup.