Belgium coach Rudi Garcia reveals conversation with Folarin Balogun after red card controversy

Both on and off the pitch at the 2026 World Cup, the world was introduced to USMNT forward Folarin Balogun. The team's leading scorer unknowingly made his name a household one after picking up a red card in the Round of 32.

While he partook in an action that was originally deemed worthy of a one-game suspension in the knockout stages, Article 27 of FIFA's code and President Trump worked to rescue Balogun from being forced out of the USMNT's Round of 16 match against Belgium.

The line of action set forth a global outcry over the legitimacy of what had just happened, one of those voiced being Belgium's coach, Rudi Garcia. After previously referring to July 5, the day of the U.S. vs. Belgium match, as "the first of April" and "April Fools," Garcia said that he was able to speak to Balogun on the side.

Here's what Garcia said to Balogun regarding recent events.

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What did Rudi Garcia say to Folarin Balogun?

In the run-up to Team USA's Round of 16 match against Belgium, the USMNT forward had become a popular topic of discussion. While he did earn a red card that prohibited him from suiting up for the match, President Trump and his team spoke with FIFA president Gianni Infantino about his one-match ban being lifted.

While it may not have been Balogun's fault, it did put him in more of a global spotlight. Many soccer fans outside of the U.S. (and even residing in North America) disagreed with Trump's immersion into the affair.

Here's what Belgium's coach said about Balogun after Monday night's Round of 16 match:

"He came to talk to me. I really liked that," Garcia said in a translation. "It is not his fault; he is not the one to blame. That's what I told him. I really appreciate the intention that he came to see me. I appreciate this player."

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Folarin Balogun red card controversy

Just over 15 minutes into the second half of the USMNT's Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Balogun made significant contact with the back of Tarik Muharemovic's ankle. The European went down, and after a VAR review, the U.S. forward was given a red card and, therefore, a one-game suspension.

Here is the play that began this whirlwind of a future for Balogun:

This play is being reviewed for a potential red card against the US pic.twitter.com/EdyPpgpycA

While many people believed that Balogun's suspension would stand, FIFA cited a portion of its disciplinary code that allows the organization's "judicial body" to suspend a disciplinary measure against a player. FIFA suspended Balogun's red card for one year, removing his one-game suspension and effectively putting the infraction on probation for the next year.

A section of FIFA's disciplinary code states that the organization's "judicial body" has the right to suspend a disciplinary measure against a player.

"The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure," Article 27 of the code says. "By suspending the implementation of the sanction, the judicial body subjects the person sanctioned to a probationary period of one to four years."

Trump confirmed reports that he called FIFA president Gianni Infantino, telling reporters he "asked for a review" of the suspension.

"I didn't tell him what to do, I can't tell him what to do," Trump said, calling the red card a "horrible" decision.

Infantino also confirmed in a statement on Monday that he spoke to Trump, but shut down statements about the president's heavy involvement in the suspension being overturned.

"I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues," Infantino said. "During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold."

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