The intervention of US President Donald Trump to overturn Folarin Balogun's red card has been labelled an embarrassment by ITV pundits Gary Neville and Ian Wright, after the USA crashed out of the World Cup in a 4-1 defeat to Belgium. Balogun was sent off against Bosnia & Herzegovina, but a phone call from Trump to FIFA president Gianni Infantino led to the suspension being overruled and the striker made available for the last-16 clash.
Trump's intervention backfired spectacularly. Despite Balogun starting the match, Mauricio Pochettino's side were humiliated, and the controversy threatened to overshadow their campaign from the off. Wright, visibly frustrated, said: 'It’s embarrassed them. I feel sorry for that American supporter who loves the game, for their President to embarrass them. I’m gutted for them.'
“Gary Neville and Ian Wright condemn Donald Trump's intervention after USA's World Cup exit following Balogun red card overruled.”
Neville argued that the White House's meddling placed an unnecessary burden on the players. 'They grabbed defeat from victory because they had so much neutral love. They put in a good performance from the very beginning and when you look at those American footballers, they're Americans with morals, that pre-match situation they won't have enjoyed that. Football players don’t like an advantage of any kind, the intervention from the President to FIFA, they would have hated that, it's put them under unnecessary pressure.'
Roy Keane suggested the distraction may have tipped the balance against Belgium. 'I certainly don't think it helped them from that point of view because what they have had in this tournament, it is energy. It would've motivated Belgium no doubt, because it was harsh, they never turned up or got going and Belgium got momentum going into the game. Then self destruct for the USA, tough old day.'
Belgium made their feelings clear on the pitch, and the USA's World Cup dreams ended in a humbling defeat, leaving questions about whether Trump's intervention did more harm than good.