Right result in the wrong way

The vast majority of fans of the U.S. men’s soccer team were overjoyed when they heard one of the team’s best players, Folarin Balogun, was going to be able to play in Monday’s World Cup game against Belgium. What many were unsure about is the way that decision was reached.
Balogun was initially given a red card during the United States’ game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, with many disagreeing with the call at the time. The play wasn’t immediately called a foul, but then the video assistant referee called attention to the play and it was reviewed. The referee was shown slow motion replays of the incident, something that is said to be out of protocol with video review in World Cup matches, and those replays showed Balogun’s spikes catching the ankle of the Bosnian player. It was completely unintentional, as the two were just jockeying for position to try to get to the ball. Red cards are generally reserved for more serious infractions.
Despite that, the red card was shown due to a “serious foul play,” disqualifying Balogun and raising questions about whether proper process had been followed or if the decision was too harsh. Most in the soccer world felt the ruling was correct by the letter of the law, but also said there was no ill intent and it should have not been a red card in the first place. We agree with that.
The red card meant Balogun was supposed to miss last night’s game against Belgium, as is the standard when a red card is shown, but he was allowed to play and the entire thing became an international incident when President Donald Trump phoned FIFA chief Gianni Infantino and asked the play be reviewed. The ban was overturned, creating an uproar across the globe, in particular with other teams in the tournament. Especially Belgium.
Balogun getting to play is the right result. He was inappropriately kicked out of the previous game, and the Americans had to play a large swath of that game with 10 players. It’s fair he was allowed to play against Belgium. The way he was allowed to play, however—with apparent influence from the President of the United States—can be fairly called into question.
It wasn’t long ago we wrote about the integrity of NCAA football in this space. It would be hypocritical not to wonder if influential people trying to get decisions overturned during international competition also brings about questions of integrity in the sport. Bad calls are made all the time in sports, and teams have to deal with them and overcome them. When powerful people start getting those decisions overturned, it calls into question the entire landscape of the competition.
FIFA already has integrity issues as it is. This certainly didn’t help. In the end, the decision was really much ado about nothing, as the Belgians walloped the Americans by a 4-1 score, and Balogun really didn’t do much of anything. Still, it was a bad look. The right result achieved the wrong way.