There was yet more controversy related to this summer’s FIFA World Cup on Sunday, with USA forward Folarin Balogun having his one-match ban overturned ahead of the game against Belgium on Monday.

The USA star received a straight red card in the win over Bosnia & Herzegovina earlier this week. With no appeal process available in the tournament, he was set to receive an automatic one-match ban.

However, FIFA made the shock announcement on Sunday that the ban had been suspended and he would be free to feature in the last-16. The decision was made amid apparent pressure from Donald Trump and the White House, who have a close relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Roy Keane criticises FIFA over World Cup decision

This decision has led to further questions around the impartiality of FIFA, with the host nation being given what looks like clear favourable treatment in comparison to other teams competing at this summer’s World Cup. It is not a surprising development considering the way Infantino has pandered to Trump and his administration since his return to office in 2025.

Recommended

Speaking on ITV, Roy Keane called a spade a spade when suggesting that this looked like Infantino doing the Americans a favour ahead of the game against Belgium.

It seems unfair because it is unfair. Of course.

You’ve got to look at the opposition team in terms of their preparation.

It seems like a bit of a ‘pal’s act’ shall we say going on.

He’s not wrong.

Gary Neville joins criticism of FIFA USA call

Gary Neville went even further by suggesting that we should not be surprised to see what he felt was clear favouritism from FIFA on this occasion.

I think there is a process that allows it to be overturned. But if there’s no process that allows it to be overturned, and then somehow FIFA from nowhere have decided basically to let a player play and the rules are the same for everybody.

I would be absolutely raging if I was Belgium or any other team in the tournament that had a player sent off that thinks they were a bit hard done by.

Are we surprised? Not with this lot.

This development is certainly a blow to Belgium, who had assumed they would be facing a USA team without their star attacker.

The last minute nature of the decision will rightly raise further questions around FIFA and their conduct under Gianna Infantino.