There are rules for the USA and Ronaldo, and rules for everyone else: Football is bigger than politics

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The dust may have settled on Belgium's emphatic 4-1 victory over the United States, but the biggest controversy of the 2026 World Cup is far from over.

Belgium solved the Folarin Balogun problem on the pitch. FIFA, however, still has to answer for what happened under it.

The fallout from the decision to overturn Balogun's automatic suspension has created an unprecedented storm across world football. It has strained relations between football's governing bodies, divided public opinion, and raised uncomfortable questions about sporting integrity. This story is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

Ironically, Balogun himself has become one of the central figures in the tournament through no fault of his own. A talented striker, but hardly one of Europe's defining stars, he has suddenly become one of the most discussed footballers in the world for reasons that have nothing to do with his performances on the pitch.

The sequence of events is well known.

Against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32, Balogun was shown a straight red card by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus after a dangerous challenge on defender Tarik Muharemović. His studs caught the Bosnian's ankle in an incident that, under modern interpretations of the Laws of the Game and with VAR in operation, is routinely punished with a dismissal.

There was little controversy about the decision at the time.

The automatic suspension meant Balogun would miss the Round of 16 against Belgium. Then everything changed.

First came public criticism from Marco Rubio, who questioned the decision and suggested the matter was not over. Soon afterwards came the announcement that shocked the football world. FIFA overturned the suspension, allowing Balogun to play against Belgium.

Gianni Infantino insisted the White House had played no role in the decision.

Then Donald Trump publicly contradicted him.

The US president stated that he had spoken to Infantino on three occasions and claimed he had helped persuade FIFA to review the case. Whether intended or not, those comments fuelled accusations that political influence had entered football's disciplinary process.

The reaction from Mauricio Pochettino only intensified the debate.

"My reaction is the same as everyone who loves football and believes in the ethics and integrity of this sport. We should welcome this decision. We were already punished against Bosnia and Herzegovina by playing with ten men for 35 minutes after what I believe was a completely unfair red card. I'm sure 99.9 percent of people agree."

Those comments drew criticism from many observers, who argued that defending the decision while speaking about ethics and integrity sent a contradictory message.

The controversy also exposed deep divisions within the media. Some American commentators defended the intervention as correcting an injustice, while many voices across Europe viewed the incident as a dangerous example of politics influencing sporting decisions.

The wider concern extends beyond one player or one match.

The Balogun case follows another controversial decision earlier in the tournament involving Cristiano Ronaldo, whose suspension was also lifted after a red card. Together, the two incidents have raised fears that football's disciplinary rules are no longer being applied consistently.

If exceptions can be made for some players, critics argue, then confidence in the fairness of the competition inevitably suffers.

Belgium's commanding victory ultimately removed the immediate sporting controversy. The Red Devils eliminated the United States despite Balogun's availability, ensuring the result would be decided on the field rather than in boardrooms.

But that does not erase the questions.

Football has survived pressure from governments, politicians and powerful interests throughout its history because the game has always found a way to defend its competitive integrity. Whether FIFA has protected that principle in this case is a debate that is only beginning.

Belgium may have delivered what many viewed as football justice, but the damage to trust has not disappeared. The Balogun affair has already become one of the defining controversies of the 2026 World Cup, and its consequences are likely to extend well beyond this tournament.