Belgium have issued a cheeky statement after defeating USA 4-1 in their blockbuster World Cup clash on Tuesday morning (AEST).
The build-up to the match was dominated by FIFA’s controversial decision to allow American Folarin Balogun to play despite receiving a red card in the previous match, which triggers an automatic one-match ban.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Trump lobbies FIFA to overturn US player’s red card
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Despite the presence of Balogun, the host nation were completely outplayed in the one-sided contest.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the disciplinary process amid an international wave of criticism after US President Donald Trump praised the decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s World Cup red card ban.
Infantino said FIFA’s judicial bodies operated “independently and autonomously” and that he had told Trump the Balogun case was subject to an ongoing legal process, even as the US President described the decision to reinstate the United States striker as “brilliant” after personally urging FIFA to review the case.
The affair quickly became the tournament’s biggest controversy, drawing condemnation from European football body UEFA, which said FIFA had “crossed a red line”, the Royal Belgian Football Association, several national federations as well as senior coaches, officials and politicians, with critics arguing FIFA had undermined confidence in its own disciplinary system.
It also prompted the Belgians to challenge Balogun’s eligibility for the match but their appeal was rejected by FIFA.
But any hint of Belgium being potentially distracted by the ordeal were quickly put to bed as Charles De Ketelaere opened the scoring in the ninth minute and quickly restored his side’s lead after Malik Tillman equalised in the 31st minute.
A nightmare blunder by American goalkeeper Matt Freese allowed Hans Vanaken to effectively killed off the contest before Romelu Lukaku added a fourth in second-half injury time.
The players appeared to troll Trump with their celebration of the final goal, breaking out into a little dance that the US President often does.
Immediately after the match, the Belgian Red Devils official X account couldn’t resist poking fun at the controversial build-up to the match by posting “overturn this”.
Seeking a first World Cup title, Belgium knocked the Americans out in the round of 16 for the second time in 12 years and extended their unbeaten streak to 18 games.
The Red Devils play 2010 champions Spain on Friday in California for a semi-final berth against France or Morocco.
After winning three games in a World Cup for the first time in this expanded 48-nation tournament, the Americans failed in their quest to reach the quarters for the first time since 2002 and lost to Belgium for the seventh-straight time since a victory at the initial tournament in 1930.
The US have dropped 11 of their last 12 games against European opponents, winning only their round-of-32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Speaking before the match, Trump hailed the “brilliant decision” in allowing Balogun to play.
“He (Balogun) didn’t do anything wrong and he is our best player,” Trump told reporters at the Oval Office.
“When they take your best player and say, ‘You can’t play’ it’s very unfair.”
“I think they made a really brilliant decision. I asked for a review. If they would not allow a top player to play I think it (the World Cup) would have had a big stain. I related that feeling.”
Trump also questioned the quality of refereeing by Brazil’s Raphael Claus, who had sent Balogun off, saying he was “a little bit suspect if you check his past.” He did not elaborate.
Infantino later confirmed the call but said he explained to Trump that FIFA’s judicial bodies operated independently.
“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,” Infantino said in a statement.
“That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.”
— With AAP