Belgian World Cup officials have lodged a formal complaint with FIFA concerning the quality of training facilities at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Los Angeles. This marks the second significant controversy for the team this week, following a dispute over a player suspension that involved former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) stated that an inspection of the pitch at LMU revealed the playing surface did not meet the minimum standards required for their training sessions ahead of a quarter-final match. Consequently, FIFA granted their request to relocate to a different facility. The Belgian team will now prepare at the LA Galaxy's training ground in Carson for their upcoming game against Spain.
LMU, however, has disputed the RBFA's assessment. A spokesperson for the university told The Athletic that Sullivan Field is regularly tested and is in top condition, having been used by several professional sports teams.
The facility dispute follows a turbulent period for the team after they defeated the United States on Monday. The victory occurred despite Folarin Balogun's one-game suspension being overturned, a decision that reportedly involved intervention from former President Trump.
Belgium's federation had officially complained about the player suspension incident, likening the situation to an "April Fools' prank." FIFA, however, dismissed the appeal, deeming it "inadmissible."
Following the announcement that Balogun would be allowed to play, President Trump issued a statement thanking FIFA for reversing the ban. White House sources confirmed that Trump had contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino prior to the decision.
After the match, Balogun approached Belgium's coach Rudi Garcia to discuss the controversy. Garcia expressed his appreciation for the player's gesture, stating that Balogun was not to blame.
