Brussels, July 7: Belgium turned a controversial FIFA decision into a social media spectacle after knocking co-hosts the United States out of the FIFA World Cup, taking cheeky digs at both the Americans and US President Donald Trump.
The controversy erupted after FIFA suspended the one-match ban on United States striker Folarin Balogun just hours before the Round of 16 clash. Trump later admitted he had asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review the suspension, triggering criticism from UEFA, the Royal Belgian Football Association and England coach Thomas Tuchel.
Belgium used the controversy as motivation.
“There was a sense of injustice within the squad, and we were determined to respond on the field,” midfielder Nicolas Raskin said.
After the victory, several Belgian players celebrated with the viral “Trump dance”, while the team’s official Instagram account posted a photo of Romelu Lukaku with the caption: ”Overturn this.” The post was widely seen as a sarcastic swipe at FIFA’s decision.Iran also joined the online banter, posting: ”Now the whole world is dancing for the humiliating defeat of politics against football.”
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia, however, refused to blame Balogun, saying the striker approached him after the match.
“I really liked that. It’s not his fault; he’s not the one to blame,” Garcia said.
The episode has become one of the World Cup’s biggest off-field talking points, reigniting debate over whether politics had crossed into football. (AP)
