Folarin Balogun’s availability for the United States of America for the World Cup clash against Belgium has sparked controversy in world football.

The former Arsenal striker was dismissed in the Round of 32 win against Bosnia & Herzegovina after finding the net earlier in the same match. However, the red card caused outrage among US supporters, as Balogun appeared to accidentally land on his opponent’s ankle.

While it was widely seen as the wrong decision by the referee and VAR on the day, the way the ban has now been suspended for a year hasn’t gone down well.

FIFA denied the US government played any part in the decision, but it has become public knowledge that a call was made from the White House.

Trump Admin Brought in ‘Expert Lawyers’ For Balogun Case

REUTERS/Carlos Barria

It has now been claimed that White House officials were a bit more involved than anyone is admitting. In fact, OutKick’s Clay Travis has reported that Trump’s administration took legal steps to ensure the striker would be available for the next game.

That involved gathering ‘expert lawyers’ to present evidence to FIFA. Their biggest argument was that slow-motion replays violated rules set by football’s governing body.

Travis posted on X: “President Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and White House task force head Andrew Giuliani put together a team of elite lawyers — from outside the government — to challenge the Flo Balogun red card.”

He then added that Trump even alerted Gianni Infantino that the appeal was filed and let him know his feelings on the matter. Although it is still maintained that FIFA’s independent committee made the final call:

US President Thanked FIFA For Balogun Ban Decision

Mandel Ngan via Reuters

Immediately after Sunday’s news broke that Mauricio Pochettino would have his star striker available for the last-16 tie against Belgium, the country’s president was quick to post a social media message.

Trump thanked FIFA ‘for doing what was right’. Doing so only fuelled the outcry that something suspicious may have happened behind the scenes between known friends Trump and Infantino.

The 80-year-old posted: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

Wayne Rooney has torn into FIFA president Gianni Infantino, telling him he should be “ashamed of himself” for the decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s red card ban for a year.

The USA striker, who has impressed at his home World Cup, scoring three goals and providing one assist in the three matches he has played thus far, was sent off against Bosnia & Herzegovina in the round of 32 match last week.

Balogun was initially not sent off, but after a VAR review, referee Raphael Claus deemed it to have been serious foul play, with the replays showing the striker planted his studs down the back of Tarik Muharemovic’s achilles and turning his ankle.

Balogun felt red card decision was harsh

Carlos Barria via Action Images via Reuters

It was an innocuous incident, with Balogun clearly showing no intent as he vied for the ball, trying simply to plant his foot in the ground as he challenged for possession, but the rules are clear and the incident did not look good when watched back.

Speaking after the game, Balogun said: “I think as you all saw, if there’s nowhere else to put your leg, it’s going to be unavoidable. I’ve seen many different opinions and takes, but, for me personally, I think a yellow card would have been fair.”

Balogun was expected to miss the USA’s round of 16 clash with Belgium as a result of the sending off, but FIFA have suspended the ban for a year, with US president Donald Trump thanking them for “doing what was right”.

It is understood that Trump lobbied FIFA to lift the ban. FIFA have stated that the ban was suspended “in line with Article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code, which allows it to suspend red cards so long as the discipline is not related to match-fixing”.

Speaking on the BBC, Rooney could not believe the decision.

He said: “I think it’s an absolute disgrace, I really do. I know it was UEFA but I got a three-game ban before Euro 2012 so I was due to miss the three group games and I got asked, or basically told that if I go over to Switzerland and do a training session with a bunch of kids the third game gets taken off.

“I agreed to do it because I didn’t want the three-game ban but I thought it was wrong. But for this to be suspended, they either take the red card away, which I think is probably the right decision and then he can play but to suspend it for a year I think is an absolute disgrace.

Rooney takes aim at FIFA president

REUTERS/Henry Romero

“Infantino should be ashamed of this because I think the sportsmanship of this game is in question here and if I’m one of the USA’s opponents I would be absolutely fuming, I think it’s wrong in every way.”

Belgium were fuming, with a statement reading: “The Royal Belgian Football Association is astonished by FIFA’s decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play in the USA-Belgium match on Monday.

“In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options.”

Media outlets in Mexico have made their feelings about England clear after the two nations played out a classic World Cup tie at the Azteca Stadium on Sunday night.

A Jude Bellingham brace and Harry Kane penalty were enough for the Three Lions to eliminate one of the host nations on their own turf after a week of speculation around how they’d cope in the conditions. The altitude inside the famous ground turned out to be no problem.

Thomas Tuchel’s side were forced to work extremely hard by a team that breezed through the group stage and Round of 32 without conceding a single goal, but their attacking quality proved to be vital. Now, local media have weighed in on the 1966 winners.

REUTERS/Paul Childs

It was a close encounter which threatened to boil over at times due to the tense atmosphere inside the ground, but the press in Mexico have been full of praise for the English players.

Several outlets made sure to give credit to the opposition while expressing the disappointment of being beaten on home soil. Mediotiempo wrote (per Daily Record):

Speaking about Javier Aguirre’s efforts to throw the kitchen sink at 10-man England, they conceded that they were simply facing a ‘top team’. “He pinned the English back in their own half, but no one could provide the spark of creativity needed to break down a top team, and it all ended as it began: just a dream.”

The Mexican Record were even more complimentary of specific players in the Three Lions’ line-up. “It wasn’t South Africa. Nor Korea or the Czech Republic. Not even Ecuador. It was a world champion, the team with the most powerful league on the planet,” they wrote.

Kane and Bellingham were among the handful of players singled out for praise: “A team with the legendary Harry Kane. With stars like Bellingham, man of the match, or Saka, or Rice. Even Pickford shone.”

Jude Bellingham Praised For Actions After England Win

Henry Romero via Reuters

In addition to his star power on the pitch, Bellingham specifically has captured the imagination of Mexicans for his gesture after the game. He has been praised by El Universal for his actions, which ‘touched many hearts’.

A video quickly emerged online of Bellingham comforting 17-year-old wonderkid Gilberto Mora. The youngster asked to swap shirts with the Real Madrid ace, who responded by saying: “Give me yours too.”

The Mexican outlet appreciated the Englishman taking the time to acknowledge the rising star amid his country’s celebrations: “Undoubtedly, a gesture to applaud from the English player, who, full of euphoria and joy at qualifying for the quarter-finals, took the time to acknowledge the Mexican gem, who played a good game.”