Бельгийн шигшээ багийн хамгаалагч Томас Менье Дэлхийн аварга шалгаруулах тэмцээний үеэр ФИФА-гийн гаргасан шийдвэр нь хөлбөмбөгийг улс төрөөс ангид байлгах боломжгүйг харуулсан гэж үзэж байна.
Дэлхийн аварга шалгаруулах тэмцээний шөвгийн 16-ын шатанд АНУ-ын шигшээ багийн эсрэг тоглохын өмнө ФИФА-гаас Фоларин Балогуны улаан хуудасны шийтгэлийг хэрэгжүүлэхгүй байх шийдвэр гаргасан нь ихээхэн маргаан дагуулсан юм. Өмнөх тоглолтод улаан хуудас авсан Балогуныг талбайд гаргахыг зөвшөөрсөн энэхүү шийдвэрийн дараа Бельги улс АНУ-ыг Сиэтл хотод 4-1-ийн харьцаатай хожиж, тэмцээнээс хассан билээ. Томас Менье энэ үйл явдлыг Дэлхийн аварга шалгаруулах тэмцээний “уламжлалт хөлбөмбөгийн харанхуй тал” гэж тодорхойлоод, тухайн нөхцөл байдлаас шалтгаалан бусад орны багууд Бельгийг ялаасай хэмээн хүсэж байсныг онцолжээ.
Премьер лигийн Сандерлэнд багт тоглож буй Менье хөлбөмбөг болон улс төр нь салшгүй холбоотой болохыг дурдаад, ФИФА-гийн хөндлөнгийн оролцоо нь спортын зарчимд харшилсан үйлдэл байсан гэв. Тэрээр АНУ-ын спортын дэд бүтэц Дэлхийн аварга зохион байгуулахад хангалттай боловч энэ удаагийн тэмцээнд хөлбөмбөгөөс илүүтэй санхүү, бизнес болон улс төрийн нөлөө их байсныг шүүмжилсэн юм. Бельги улс уг тэмцээний шөвгийн наймд Испанид хожигдон тэмцээнээ өндөрлүүлсэн билээ.
Бельгийн хөлбөмбөгийн холбоо даваа гарагт ФИФА-гийн ерөнхийлөгч Жанни Инфантиног дэмжихээ зогсоож байгаагаа мэдэгдсэн байна. Холбооны ерөнхийлөгч Паскаль ван Дамме аравдугаар сарын дундуур болох ФИФА-гийн зөвлөлийн хурлаар Балогуны асуудлыг хэлэлцүүлэхийг шаардаж, үйл явдал болсноос хойш хоёр сарын хугацаа өнгөрсөн ч хариулт аваагүй хэвээр байгаагаа илэрхийлжээ.
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Thomas Meunier, part of the Belgium squad at the World Cup affected by FIFA’s decision not to enforce the suspension of Folarin Balogun prior to the last-16 tie with the United States, has described the tournament as “the dark side of traditional football” and said a consequence of the Balogun decision was the rest of the countries involved “wanted us to beat America, because of that situation.”
Balogun played due to the intervention of FIFA, having collected a red card in the United States’ previous game against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Belgium defeated the U.S. 4-1 in Seattle to knock the co-hosts out.
Now playing for Sunderland in the Premier League, Meunier, a vastly-experienced Belgium international, was asked by The Athletic for his thoughts on Balogun and the World Cup in general two months on. Like everyone else, Meunier had seen the developing relationship between FIFA’s Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump.
“I do believe politics and football do not have to be partners in any way,” Meunier said, “but the problem is that football reflects what people think — it can be heard in the stands, racism, a lot things. So is it really possible to divide football and politics?
“Federations are political, the financial aspect, everything is linked, it’s a bit like a government. As long as the politicians take the best decision for the people, it’s not a problem. But, if the politics are — I’m not going to say ‘corrupted’, but goes against sport — then it’s dangerous.
“And that’s what we had with Balogun. The consequences of their defeat went on him, but he didn’t ask for anything. This was too much, too much on him. But after that incident, this conflict, everyone wanted us to beat America, because of that situation. Everyone wanted them to be eliminated.”
Balogun was at the centre of the World Cup’s biggest controversy. (Charlotte Wilson / Getty Images)
Meunier added of FIFA’s intervention: “I think this event was a reflection of the whole World Cup — led by capitalism, entertainment, money. This World Cup was the dark side of traditional football.”
Meunier has 83 caps for Belgium and this was his third World Cup. His considered opinion will be welcomed by fans and certain administrators across football.
Meunier was not entirely critical of the three-country tournament hosted by Canada, Mexico and the U.S., and was impressed by the facilities he saw — Belgium played five of their six matches in the U.S. and one in Canada. They lost to eventual winners Spain in the last eight.
“The positive is that we have seen America is a sports country,” Meunier said, “and they have the infrastructure to organise a World Cup every year.
“But as long as it stays about football and nothing more. The problem is that football was not the first priority at World Cup 2026.”
On Monday the Royal Belgian Football Association said it would no longer support Infantino and want the Balogun decision discussed at the next FIFA Council meeting in mid-October. RBFA president Pascale van Damme told reporters: “Two months after the events, our questions remain unanswered.”
