US president Donald Trump on Monday afternoon confirmed that he did in fact contact Fifa regarding the sanction of American player Folarin Balogun ahead of that nation’s Fifa World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash against Belgium on Tuesday morning (kick-off 2am).
Fifa find themselves embroiled in a controversy, apparently of their own making, after Trump made contact with the organisation’s president, Gianni Infantino, on Sunday to request that Balogun’s red card, received in the US’s last 32 clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina, be rescinded. It was during that match that the 25-year old attempted a tackle on Tarik Muharemovic, only to stomp on the latter’s ankle in a clumsy challenge.
Match referee Raphael Claus initially did not call a foul. However, VAR flagged the incident, and after an on-field review the referee returned to the pitch and showed Balogun a straight red card.
Fifa’s Disciplinary Committee (DC) on Monday reviewed the incident and cleared Balogun to play against Belgium. Subsequently, Belgium’s appeal to overturn that ruling has been denied.
Speaking from the White House on Monday, Trump revealed details of the discussion with Infantino.
“All I did was ask for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul,” Trump said. “And, you know, again, I’m good at this stuff.
“I didn’t think it was a foul. I thought it was two great athletes that crashed into each other and got entangled. It was not a guy punching someone in the face because that would be different.
“I think,” Trump added, “they made a really brilliant decision. I think the referee’s call was horrible and nobody talks about that. They talk about the red card like it’s fine, nobody talks about the referee’s decision to red card.”
Trump also added that he understood that it was not Infantino who made the decision to repel the red card, but that instead it was the Disciplinary Committee who did so.
Infantino, meanwhile, also acknowledged the call on social media on Monday, and insisted that the decision was made by an independent process outside of political interference.
“I have seen the public comments regarding the decision of the independent DC related to the suspension of Balogun, and I would like to reiterate a fundamental principle of Fifa’s governance,” read Infantino’s statement.
“Fifa’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the Fifa disciplinary code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected.
“What I always do, however, is respect those decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them,” Infantino continued.
“Whether we personally like a decision or not is irrelevant. Respect for independent institutions and the rule of law is what protects the integrity of our competitions and the credibility of Fifa at all times.”
Nevertheless, the row has tainted the upcoming match and could also further erode public trust in Infantino’s administration, as well as the integrity of the tournament. Whether Balogun takes to the field against Belgium remains to be seen, but any positive result for the US with him on the pitch will surely remain controversial for years to come.
