The United States’ World Cup campaign is over after a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Belgium in the round of 16. This marks the country’s heaviest World Cup defeat in 36 years, and the controversy surrounding Donald Trump’s personal intervention in a player’s ban has overshadowed everything.
In the days leading up to the match, Donald Trump had personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to push for the red card suspension of striker Folarin Balogun to be overturned. The day before the game, FIFA confirmed Balogun would be free to play. Belgium were furious. They then went out and won 4-1.
Goals from Charles De Ketelaere, who scored twice, Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku sent the co-hosts packing in front of a Seattle crowd that had begun emptying well before full-time.
Balogun speaks out
After the game, Balogun addressed the ban controversy directly, saying he had simply accepted whatever decision was made and tried to focus on his job.
“When you’re given a red card, usually the protocol is you don’t play in the following game. Then when that decision’s overturned, of course it’s going to be controversial,” he said.
“Belgium were the better team today. They played much better than us.”
Coach Mauricio Pochettino said he was heartbroken and that the team had a lot to learn from the experience. He also took a thinly veiled swipe at outside interference, telling the BBC he was “disappointed with too many people” who put “politics and manipulation” ahead of the integrity of the game.
FIFA defends the referee Trump called ‘suspect’
The fallout extended beyond the result itself. Trump had publicly described Brazilian referee Raphael Claus, the official who showed Balogun the original red card, as “suspect,” prompting FIFA to issue an unusually direct defense of one of their own officials.
FIFA stated that Claus was one of the world’s leading referees and a member of their elite group of match officials, adding that he had “consistently demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.” FIFA referee chief Pierluigi Collina added that the governing body maintained “full confidence” in him.
The last time the US lost by this margin at a World Cup was in 1990, against Czechoslovakia.
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