Balogun starts for US against Belgium after suspension lifted following call by Trump to FIFA

Folarin Balogun was included in the U.S. starting lineup for their World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium after FIFA lifted his red-card suspension. The suspension, initially given for a foul during a match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, was overturned following a call from U.S. President Donald Trump to FIFA’s president. This decision, which UEFA criticized as “unprecedented,” allowed Balogun to play, despite Belgium’s unsuccessful appeal to reinstate the suspension. The U.S. team, unchanged from their previous lineup, faced a Belgian team that made several changes. The winner of this match will play Spain for a chance to advance to the semifinals. The U.S. has not reached the World Cup quarterfinals since 2002. QUESTION: How might the involvement of political figures in sports decisions impact the integrity of international competitions?