FIFA rejects Belgium challenge over US striker Balogun's eligibility for World Cup clash

MIAMI, July 6 : FIFA dismissed Belgium's challenge to United States striker Folarin Balogun's eligibility for Monday's World Cup last-16 showdown as 'inadmissible', leaving the European side to approach the U.S. Soccer Federation to contest his inclusion.

FIFA suspended Balogun's red-card ban and cleared him to play in the last-16 tie after U.S. President Donald Trump personally urged FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to review the case. Infantino denied being involved in the final decision.

"The FIFA Appeal Committee has rendered a request submitted by the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) as inadmissible," FIFA said in a statement.

"The request was rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision."

The RBFA said it had still not received any decision or any explanation from FIFA regarding Balogun's eligibility and had no alternative but to challenge his eligibility.

The Appeal Committee is chaired by American Neil Eggleston but FIFA said he was not involved in the decision.

However, the RBFA said it has informed the U.S. Soccer Federation that it contests Balogun's eligibility, should the player be listed on the referee's team sheet ahead of kickoff.

"This leaves all further actions open," the RBFA added.

"To date, the RBFA 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."

Belgium had requested a copy of the decision and the motivation declaring Balogun eligible as well as the referee's report.

REJECTED ON TECHNICAL GROUNDS

Earlier on Monday, the RBFA said FIFA considered its correspondence requesting information to constitute an appeal and