Belgium’s World Cup officials have sparked a fresh argument with FIFA – this time over their underwhelming training facilities in LA.
It has been a topsy-turvy week for the team, who beat the United States on Monday despite Folarin Balogun being able to play after having his suspension overturned – thanks, in part, to Donald Trump.
The decision left Belgium furious, and now – as attention turns to a quarter-final clash with Spain on Friday – it appears there is still some lingering anger.
The Athletic reports that the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) launched a new official complaint this week after arriving at its training facility at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in LA.
The team was scheduled to use the campus for its preparations ahead of the quarter-final game, but an inspection of the pitch ‘showed that the quality of the playing surface did not meet the minimum standards required for our training session.’
The Belgians requested that FIFA relocate them to a new facility, which was subsequently granted and they are now at a different base.
Belgium’s players have moved training facilities in LA after putting in a complaint to FIFA
The Belgium squad was initially due to practice at LMU, but the pitch quality was lacking
The team will now practice at LA Galaxy’s training ground in Carson, before they face off against European champions Spain at SoFi Stadium on Friday afternoon.
In the aftermath of the decision to move the team, LMU released a statement to The Athletic disagreeing with the review of its facilities by the Belgian World Cup squad.
‘Sullivan Field is regularly tested to ensure the highest quality,’ a spokesperson said. ‘Our field is in top condition and has been used by several professional sports teams, including planned engagements this summer.’
The argument over the facilities comes alongside Belgium’s federation still chasing answers from FIFA over why it decided to suspend Balogun’s one-game suspension to allow him to play on Monday night.
While it ultimately made little difference to the result, it has created an international firestorm, with many furious at Trump’s decision to weigh in and call FIFA president Gianni Infantino in a bid to get the ban overturned.
Ahead of the game, Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia likened the fiasco to an ‘April Fools’ prank, and his federation went on to officially complain about the incident.
FIFA poured cold water on that, though, turning down the appeal and calling it ‘inadmissible’ as it was ‘not a party to the proceedings.’
It is the second controversy of the week involving the team, after Trump’s Balogun interference
Belgium’s players even mocked the US president by copying his dancing in the changing room
Folarin Balogun was allowed to play against Belgium, but it ultimately made little difference
Moments after Sunday’s announcement that Balogun would be able to play, President Trump, who has become close friends with Infantino, wrote: ‘Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP.’
White House sources confirmed to the Daily Mail that Trump took the extraordinary step of reaching out to Infantino, ahead of FIFA’s staggering decision to suspend the ban, before the President confirmed the news himself at a Monday press conference.
After the game, meanwhile, Balogun did approach Belgium boss Garcia to address the controversy.
‘He came to talk to me. I really liked that,’ Garcia said in French through an interpreter.
‘It is not his fault; he is not the one to blame — and that’s what I told him. I really appreciate the intention that he came to see me. I appreciate this player.’
