It started like an April Fool's joke, and it ended with a dance. "Overturn this" was Belgium's message after the Red Devils performed Donald Trump's trademark rally dance on the pitch.
It started like an April Fool's joke, and it ended with a dance. "Overturn this" was Belgium's message after the Red Devils performed Donald Trump's trademark rally dance on the pitch.
The fight that started a day before with a controversial decision made by FIFA ended after Romelu Lukaku defeated the American goalkeeper. It was the 93rd minute, and Belgium were leading 4-1. A good reason for a victory dance!
The Red Devils assembled in a circle and swayed through the fist-pumping dance Trump made famous at his rallies. An ironic response, performed on American soil, against the American team, in front of an American crowd.
Raskin, who set up the opening goal, confirmed afterwards that the gesture was exactly what it looked like. "There was a sense of injustice within the squad, and we were determined to respond on the field," he said.
The anger had a precise starting point. FIFA allowed Folarin Balogun to play against Belgium even though he got a red card in the previous match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It was a decision made after Donald Trump himself telephoned FIFA's president and asked for a review of the red card. The American president later celebrated on Truth Social: "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!"
Belgium's federation called itself "astonished", Rudi Garcia called it an April Fool's joke and UEFA accused FIFA of crossing "a red line". But the harshest response came after Belgium defeated the USA 4-1.
Belgian national team's official X account posted Lukaku cupping his ear towards the stands above a two-word caption: "Overturn this." FIFA has not commented on the celebration. Neither, so far, has the White House.
The irony of the whole affair is that Balogun's eligibility changed nothing. The unbanned striker started but could not rescue the hosts, whose World Cup ended in the round of 16.
Belgium face Spain in the quarter-final in Los Angeles on Friday.
