Folarin Balogun has said he expected the reversal of his World Cup suspension to create controversy and unsettle the United States squad, after he was allowed to return for their last-16 defeat to Belgium. His remarks matter because they add a first-hand account from the player at the centre of a wider row over Fifa’s decision-making and alleged political interference. The case has drawn attention beyond football, raising fresh questions about neutrality and governance at the top of the game.

Balogun had been sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32, but Fifa’s disciplinary committee suspended his one-match ban for a year, allowing him to play in the US’s 4-1 loss to Belgium. He said he was pleased to be back but found the surrounding “outside noise” hard to ignore, and continued to argue that his challenge on Tarik Muharemovic should not have resulted in a red card because it was unintentional. Human rights group FairSquare has since filed a complaint with the International Olympic Committee accusing Fifa president Gianni Infantino of breaching political neutrality rules, while reports have said the disciplinary committee chair made the decision alone and Fifa has not explained why the ban was suspended.