Sporting Lisbon are depriving Belgium of their star player ahead of their clash with Spain

Hours before their 2026 World Cup quarter-final clash against Spain, Belgium have found themselves at the heart of an unexpected crisis after a dispute with Portuguese club Sporting over the health of defender Zino Debast could deprive the Red Devils of one of the most important elements of the tournament.

Belgium could play against Spain without defender Zino Debast (22), after the Belgian Football Association announced that Sporting Lisbon had informed the player that he was medically unfit to play, an assessment that clearly contradicted the opinion of the national team’s medical staff, as well as medical and insurance authorities.

“Zeno Debast will not be available to participate in the quarter-final match. His club, Sporting Lisbon, informed the player that he is medically unfit to play.

Debast suffered a hamstring injury while playing for Sporting Lisbon, forcing him to miss Belgium’s World Cup opener. He did not return to training until the end of June, after Belgium secured first place in their group.

Despite the statement issued by the Belgian Federation, the case is not yet closed. A source close to Sporting Lisbon told The Athletic newspaper that the club is in daily contact with the Belgian Football Association to monitor developments in the player’s condition.

The source added that before the quarter-final match in Los Angeles, a meeting will be held between the club and representatives of the Belgian federation, where Debast’s health condition will be examined before a final decision on the possibility of participating in the match will be made.

So far, Debast has not participated in the World Cup for a single minute, as he continues to carry out an individual training program away from group training. newspaper”Bild:“German.

His potential absence will be a blow to Belgium, especially as the young defender, despite only being 22 years old, has plenty of international experience with 26 caps for his country and was also in Belgium’s squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.