The United States striker has had his red-card ban suspended by a decision that has been widely described as undermining the integrity of football's disciplinary system11:04, 06 Jul 2026Updated 11:04, 06 Jul 2026If those who run the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) - as it likes to be known - have got anything about them, Folarin Balogun will not see a minute of action against Belgium in their round-of-16 tie.The decision to suspend the suspension triggered for the red card he received against Bosnia and Herzegovina is so palpably against the fundamental concept of fair play in football that American soccer officials should tell Mauricio Pochettino not to play Balogun, even though he is now available.In fact, Pochettino himself should decide not to play Balogun. Pochettino has always come across as a man of substance - let’s see it now. That might run the risk of incurring Donald Trump’s wrath but there are basic principles at stake here.Raphael Claus was probably a little harsh in dismissing Balogun but the striker did scrape his studs down the calf of Tarik Muharemovic. There have been harsher dismissals in World Cup history but no-one has ever had an automatic ban suspended.The only other player not to serve a ban after being sent off was Garrincha, who was dismissed during the semi-final against Chile in 1962 but played for Brazil in the final against Czechoslovakia. But back then, there was no automatic ban. It was decided by committee. And back then, there were allegations of political interference.Sixty-four years on and we are in the same boat. There are now reports that President Trump made THREE calls to FIFA before the astonishing decision was made to give Balogun a reprieve. And Trump took to social media to shout: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice!”You could not make it up. The inference is that FIFA and Gianni Infantino - who has spent at least two years fawning over Trump, wearing his cap, calling him a friend - have pretty much ripped up a very basic rule in order to keep Donald sweet. No wonder the Belgian Football Association and manager Rudi Garcia were angry and indignant.Get the latest World Cup 2026 news in your inbox with our Make Football Great Again newsletter“We are not defending the national team or the federation. We are defending football, whether it is ethics or integrity,” said Garcia.And they are. But that is what FIFA itself should be doing. That is what FIFA’s primary role should be. Instead, FIFA and Infantino do the opposite. Because in this case, they have run roughshod over ethics and integrity.No wonder UEFA came out with as strong a statement as you could imagine.After dismantling FIFA's action, UEFA conclude: "We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision."But FIFA believe they can get away with it. Why? Because at World Cups, football and fans always come to their rescue. This is a World Cup that you love - but a World Cup that you hate to love.You are disgusted by the ticket prices, by the exorbitant cost of travel and accommodation, by FIFA’s indulgence of Trump, by the decision to refuse Somali referee Omar Artan entry to the United States. You are disgusted by hydration breaks.Hydration breaks. They are an ugly scar on the game, a heinous commercial ruse. Yet who cares when England and Mexico produce a belter of a game? Who cares when Erling Haaland does Erling Haaland things?Football comes to FIFA’s rescue. Infantino and FIFA feel empowered to arbitrarily make a football match a game of four quarters, feel the hot air of criticism, yet know football will come to their rescue.Now, they think they can fundamentally undermine a referee, rip up a basic rule, stain the integrity of football’s disciplinary system and, presumably, hope that football will come to their rescue yet again.Only this might be different. If Balogun plays, if Balogun scores, if Balogun is the match-winner against Belgium, the ramifications will extend to the courtrooms, you can rest assured of that.If those who run the USMNT know where it is, they should take the high moral ground. Leave Balogun out of the Belgian game and put football’s integrity first. But don’t hold your breath. If FIFA don’t give a hoot about integrity, why should anyone else?Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.Content cannot be displayed without consent