US President Donald Trump’s phone call to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to have the red card for the co-hosts star striker Folarin Balogun reviewed is the latest instance of political interference in the World Cup.
Balogun is free to play later on Monday in the last-16 match with Belgium after world football’s governing body said the ban will be suspended for a year.
AFP Sport highlights other examples at previous World Cups:
1934 — Mussolini’s Cup
Italy’s Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini made the most of the country hosting the finals.
