FIFA sold its soul for nothing as US exits World Cup with a whimper

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FT Desk

All eyes were on one man when Belgium and the United States took to the field for their World Cup Round of 16 tie in Seattle on Monday.

That man was Folarin Balogun, who, through no fault of his own had become the central figure in a political mess which is threatening to take down FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

Last Thursday the USMNT striker received a straight red card after catching Bosnia & Herzegovina's Tarik Muharemovic with his studs down the leg and ankle. No decision was made on the tackle during normal play, but VAR intervened and advised the referee to send off Balogun on the basis of slow-motion replays.

Many observers considered the sending-off harsh, but under tournament suspension rules it meant Balogun would miss his team's next match against Belgium. Despite being down to 10 men, the Americans advanced after securing a 2-0 victory over Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Then, in a highly unusual turn of events, reports emerged over the weekend claiming that Balogun’s suspension had been overturned. FIFA later confirmed the decision, citing Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which allows the governing body to “fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”

No detailed explanation was provided for the ruling at the time initially. It was subsequently confirmed that President Donald Trump had personally contacted Infantino and requested that Balogun be cleared to play.

The decision prompted an immediate response from the Belgian Football Association, which said it was “astonished” by the outcome.

FIFA also faced widespread criticism from pundits, supporters, and other football authorities, including UEFA.

European football’s governing body issued a statement on Monday that questioned FIFA’s integrity. They are reportedly considering putting forward a candidate to challenge Infantino at next year's FIFA presidential election, having grown increasingly concerned by his tenure.

FIFA's American pandering

FIFA had already received widespread criticism for the exorbitant ticket prices at this World Cup, while plenty of other political issues have overshadowed the tournament, such as the treatment of the Iran squad, Somali referee Omar Artan being denied a visa and the refusal of entry into North America for thousands of travelling fans from certain countries.

All of that is before we even get onto the subject of Infantino's decision to give Trump FIFA's inaugural Peace Prize.

But it is this Balogun scenario which has proved the most unacceptable to most observers and that is because it shows the most blatant disregard for the rules - purely to pander to Trump and the USA.

Never in the history of the World Cup has a player received a red card and then been allowed to play the next match after a suspension was overturned or delayed.

Yet FIFA sought to supersede their only laws at the drop of a hat after Trump asked them to.

It was the latest chapter in the bromance between Infantino and Trump that has left many feeling rather uncomfortable, nobody more so than former FIFA president Sepp Blatter - who posted on socials about the Balogun decision:

"Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies. If a U.S. President intervenes with the FIFA President - and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match - the question is unavoidable: Quo vadis, FIFA?

"Football must never become a playground for political power..."

It should be noted that Blatter was forced to resign in 2015 after a corruption scandal, but his point remains valid.

The decision to reinstate Balogun has opened up a can of worms as England reportedly consider an appeal against Jarrel Quansah's red card against Mexico, while France want Michael Olise's yellow vs Paraguay overturned.

FIFA is in a real mess now, and it is entirely their own fault, or rather, Infantino's fault. They will be praying that there isn't another high-profile red card which warrants an appeal between now and the end of the tournament.

And ultimately, it was all for nothing

Infantino's special relationship with Trump and the pandering which followed was ultimately for nothing in a footballing sense as the USMNT limply exited the World Cup after an emphatic 4-1 defeat by Belgium.

It does seem like the fallout from the Balogun decision actually fired up the Belgians, if anything.

"A lot has happened off the pitch over the last two days," midfielder Nico Raskin said.

"There was a sense of injustice within the squad, and we were determined to respond on the field."

Youri Tielemans insisted the affair had boosted his side. "We told ourselves we had to respond on the pitch. That's what we did," he said.

Following Belgium's win, Iran also appeared to reference both the United States and the Balogun controversy, posting a screenshot on its official website comparing its draw with Belgium to the United States' heavy defeat.

The image was accompanied by the message: "Now the whole world is dancing for the humiliating defeat of politics against football."

Earlier in the tournament, US Homeland Security chief Markwayne Mullin said he had "danced a happy dance" after Iran were eliminated in the group stage.

The official Instagram account for the Belgium national team mocked the whole affair, posting a picture of striker Romelu Lukaku cupping his ear with the caption "overturn this".

Infantino will be adamant that the World Cup has been a success no matter what, and it certainly will be in a financial sense.

However his position is as untenable as it ever has been and all because he chose Trump over tradition, respect and integrity.

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FT Desk

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