The USMNT striker's suspension is lifted following a direct presidential appeal to FIFA.
Donald Trump has confirmed he reached out directly to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, asking for a review of Folarin Balogun’s red card. The move adds a political twist to what was already one of the World Cup’s most debated disciplinary calls.
FIFA announced on Sunday that Balogun will be available for the United States when they face Belgium in the Round of 16. His automatic one-match ban has been suspended for a year, meaning he can play, though the red card itself still stands.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said he had asked Infantino to look again at the decision, but denied instructing FIFA on what outcome to reach.
“All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say, ‘You have to do this,’” Trump said.
Trump added that he “didn’t think it was a foul” and described the incident as “two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other.”
Balogun was sent off during the USA’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, following a VAR review. The expectation was that he would miss the Belgium match, but FIFA’s latest ruling means he is now available. The striker has already scored three goals for the USA at this World Cup.
Trump said an independent committee had reached the final decision.
“I didn’t tell him what to do, I can’t tell him what to do,” he said, adding that the committee “made the right decision.”
This is the first time Trump has given a detailed public account of his role in the case. The decision has already been criticised by the Royal Belgian Football Association and UEFA.
Trump also raised doubts about the referee’s performance, describing him as “a little bit suspect” and urging reporters to look into his history.
Trump’s remarks are likely to increase the scrutiny on how FIFA has handled the situation. UEFA has already voiced strong criticism, warning that FIFA’s decision undermines the certainty of the rules. The European body called the ruling “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”
Belgium’s football association has also reacted with “astonishment” after FIFA cleared Balogun to play, insisting that a red card should always mean a suspension for the next match. According to Reuters, Belgium has written to FIFA about the decision, and The Guardian reports the RBFA is considering legal action.
What started as a disciplinary issue involving one player has now become a much bigger story. Balogun’s presence is a boost for the USA, given his impact at this tournament, but Trump’s direct involvement has put FIFA’s process under the spotlight ahead of the Belgium clash.
FIFA’s decision means Balogun is free to play, but the red card stays on his record and the suspended ban could still be enforced within the next year. The bigger question now is how this decision was made, who played a part in it, and whether other players in similar situations would get the same outcome.
