Belgium beat the USA 4:1 in a match that carried an unusual pre-game backdrop, after FIFA suspended the execution of Folarin Balogun's red-card punishment for one year only a day before kick-off. The decision added pressure on the officials and left Belgium having to prepare for a knockout-stage game under scrutiny.
The red card Balogun received in the match against Bośnią i Hercegowiną had been viewed as debatable, and there was no mechanism to appeal the ruling. That made FIFA's last-minute intervention stand out even more, because the ban was not removed entirely but paused for one year before the Belgium-USA match.
Trump: contact with FIFA changed the conversation
On Monday, Donald Trump addressed the issue at a press conference and said he had called a FIFA official about Balogun's punishment. He said he did not understand at first what the red card meant, but when he heard Balogun would miss the next match, he realised it was a major issue.
Trump's argument was simple: a player can be punished for one game, but not for a match that has not yet been played. He also criticised the referee, saying he was suspicious and that he was prepared to provide information about his background if asked.
Why the ruling mattered before Belgium-USA
The timing of FIFA's decision mattered as much as the decision itself. By suspending the punishment one day before the game, FIFA intensified the pressure on referees and affected Belgium's preparation for the contest.
Belgium, however, handled the occasion far better on the pitch and took control of the result. The 4:1 scoreline gave them a clear victory, but the wider story was always likely to be the disciplinary intervention that came before the match rather than just the final margin.
For FIFA and the USA, the episode will linger because it raised questions about process, timing and the lack of an appeal route. For Belgium, the result was decisive enough, but the build-up showed how one disciplinary call can shape the tone of a World Cup night before the ball is even kicked.
