Belgium coach refers to FIFA’s decision on Folarin Balogun as an ‘April Fools’ prank

Belgian Coach Reacts to Balogun’s Return

SEATTLE — Following a surprising 283-character announcement from the Belgian Football Association regarding Folarin Balogun’s return, manager Rudi Garcia compared the situation to April Fool’s Day during his pre-match press conference.

“I didn’t realize July 5th was like April 1st in the FIFA calendar,” Garcia remarked in French through an interpreter.

He emphasized, “We’re not defending the national team or federation. Our focus is on playing defense in soccer. It’s a first in World Cup history.” Garcia continued to express his commitment to his team, stating that his attention was solely on the upcoming game, irrespective of the U.S. lineup.

Despite Garcia and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’ attempts to steer the conversation back to the match, the media’s primary interest revolved around Balogun.

The RBFA’s statement referenced specific FIFA bylaws and mentioned they were “considering all possible options.” However, the exact implications of that remain vague. Garcia was asked about the potential for an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, even if it occurred post-Monday’s match.

“Don’t spend time on this,” Garcia advised. “I’m the head coach of the Belgian national team. If you have sports-related questions, I’d be glad to answer them.”

Courtois, who faced the U.S. in the 2014 World Cup Round of 16, pointed out that despite the unexpected timing of Balogun’s return, it wouldn’t significantly alter their preparation.

“I was a bit surprised since it was right before the game,” Courtois noted. “Had it happened earlier, I might have been better prepared.”

Nonetheless, he stated, “It hasn’t made much of a difference.” Courtois added, “We prepare for all types of strikers. Balogun is particularly fast, but so are others like [Ricardo] Pepi. They all have their strengths.” He mentioned the various threats from the U.S. attack, underscoring that training sessions were already addressing Balogun’s particular profile.