Will Cain: President Trump pulled a Trump card on a red card
Will Cain enthusiastically discusses FIFA's decision to overturn U.S. soccer star Folarin Balogun's red card, allowing him to play. This decision, upheld after rejecting Belgium's appeal, sparks outrage from the Royal Belgian Football Association. Cain frames the match as the U.S. versus "the world," highlighting the controversy.
My, my how the tables have turned.
When FIFA announced that they'd suspended the red card punishment of US Men's National Team striker Folarin Balogun, it set off a firestorm of criticism. European soccer fans, the Belgian national soccer federation, the Union of European Football Associations, and many other commentators were outraged that Balogun's unjust red card had essentially been delayed.
Their complaints have been mostly incoherent and illogical, with UEFA's statement in particular being laughably inaccurate.
"Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition," they said. "Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not. A minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted. It is a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension."
Team USA striker Folarin Balogun celebrates scoring a goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Notably, UEFA had no complaints when Cristian Ronaldo's three-match red card suspension was postponed by FIFA ahead of the World Cup. Under the exact same rule that was used in Balogun's case.
But another critique of the process came from those who said that President Donald Trump's involvement was an unacceptable violation of soccer norms. Essentially, that a politician should not make phone calls to FIFA leadership to question a decision or potentially influence an outcome. British host Piers Morgan was particularly consumed by inaccurate righteous indignation, accusing the USMNT of "cheating" and "not playing by the rules."
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Though of course, the USMNT did not cheat, and no rules were violated.
President Donald Trump holds up a red card during a meeting with FIFA president Gianni Infantino in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018, in Washington. (Evan Vucci / AP)
But the outrage from the Europeans and their fans over Trump’s involvement has been curiously missing from another revelation that was reported Monday morning: that British Prime Minister Kier Starmer called FIFA to intervene in favor of the England National Team ahead of their match against Mexico.
In the days leading up to England-Mexico at the Azteca, there were rumblings that the start time of the match might be moved up several hours to avoid forecast thunderstorms. But, according to British paper The Sun, Starmer directly intervened with FIFA to prevent that from happening.
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"The Mexicans were really talking up the storm and were pressing to move the game," a source told The Sun. "But Keir was having none of it and suspected they were trying to derail the England preparations by giving less time to adapt to the altitude, so he put his foot down."
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Jude Bellingham #10 of England celebrates with teammate Harry Kane #9 after scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Mexico and England at Mexico City Stadium on July 05, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Julian Finney - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) (FIFA via Getty Images)
Well, well, well! A politician interfering with FIFA in order to benefit his country's national team? Unacceptable! Outrageous! Unfair! Appeal the whole tournament!
Obviously, Starmer and England got their way, and held on to beat El Tri 3-2 in a hard fought instant classic. Curiously, though, Piers Morgan and the very angry European fans have had little-to-nothing to say about a politician "putting his foot down" with FIFA. Should England go on to win their quarterfinal or entire tournament, their run will be tainted by this scandal, forever laden with an asterisk over this unacceptable atrocity.
Ian Miller is a writer at OutKick.
