The United States government has come under fire after Donald Trump revealed he spoke with FIFA president Gianni Infantino to discuss Folarin Balogun's red card before the USA striker's one-match ban was controversially suspended.
However, Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force on the World Cup, brushed aside criticism of Trump and instead sought to question Starmer for wading into FIFA's decision-making over England's kick-off time.
'I would go and point to something I think is a much graver decision that was made just a couple days ago,' Giuliani said.
'Keir Starmer's intervention through diplomatic channels of not allowing the Mexico-England match time to be moved,' Giuliani continued.
'In the round of 32 after the match, three Mexicans died in this celebration,' Giuliani explained.
'And there were discussions about moving that match time from the evening [6pm, local time] to noon so then that way you would have less risk of life to Mexicans,' Giuliani added.
'That's far graver when you actually think about the consequences, the potential consequences, that anything that happens on the pitch right there,' Giuliani emphasized.
Downing Street has since sought to clarify Starmer's role in any discussions, saying in a statement: 'The Prime Minister was clear that he was supportive of representations made by the Football Association regarding the practical implications of a proposed scheduling change for the team's preparations.'
'The final decision on fixture timings remained a matter for FIFA,' the statement continued.
'But as we've consistently said, decisions on disciplinary matters and the application of rules of the game are for FIFA and for the relevant football authorities,' the statement added.
Starmer has also refused to rule out the possibility of a Bank Holiday should England go all the way and win the World Cup this summer.
'On the question of a bank holiday, I think I don't want to jinx it, but ask me again if we get to the final,' Starmer said.
The Three Lions are back in action on Saturday when they face Norway in Miami.
