Despite outrage, Balogun starts USA-Belgium match in final FIFA World Cup match after Trump intervention

Folarin Balogun of the United States warms up before the World Cup Round of 16 between the United States and Belgium. (AP Photo) Star striker Folarin Balogun has been named in the United States’ starting line-up for Tuesday’s tense World Cup Round of 16 clash against Belgium, taking the field just hours after FIFA rejected an official European appeal in a controversy that has completely divided the sporting world.Balogun received an automatic one-game suspension after receiving a straight red card for stepping on an opponent’s ankle in the Americans’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, following a personal phone call from US President Donald Trump to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, the governing body’s disciplinary committee decided to suspend the ban for a year, allowing the striker to play.Global resistance and protestsThe highly controversial decision sparked immediate outrage in European football. European governing body UEFA launched a scathing attack on the decision, calling it “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable”. Desperate to block the striker from playing, the Royal Belgian Football Association has made an official appeal for the suspension to be renewed. However, FIFA’s appeals committee abruptly rejected the request, ruling that the Belgian federation did not have the proper legal standing to challenge the disciplinary committee’s selection.The tense political drama spilled over into the streets of Seattle before kickoff. Furious Belgium supporters marched on Lumen Field chanting “FIFA Mafia” to protest what they see as unfair political interference. In an attempt to defuse the situation, Infantino publicly stated that he had no personal role in the independent disciplinary committee’s decision. The committee also fined Balogun $40,000, a fine that can be overturned by the U.S. Soccer Federation.Quarter-final betsBalogun’s inclusion is a massive boost for the tournament co-hosts as his three goals currently top the US scoring charts. History is on the line for a United States team that has never won back-to-back knockout games in World Cup history.The match offers a chance for revenge as Belgium famously eliminated the Americans at this very stage during 2014. The winner of this hotly contested contest will advance to face Spain in Inglewood, California on Friday for a place in the semi-finals.