US President Donald Trump has confirmed he personally contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the red card issued to USA forward Folarin Balogun, insisting he believed the decision was unfair but denying any pressure was applied on football’s governing body.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said his intervention was limited to a request for reconsideration of the incident during the USA’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 16.
“All I did was ask for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul,” Trump told reporters. “I didn’t tell him what to do. I can’t tell him what to do.”
The remarks mark the first public confirmation from Trump that he reached out to FIFA following Balogun’s dismissal, which initially carried an automatic suspension. The decision was later suspended, despite earlier indications from officials that the sanction could not be appealed under FIFA’s disciplinary framework.
The situation has triggered widespread debate over the independence of FIFA’s disciplinary process and the influence of political figures on sporting rulings.
In response, Infantino acknowledged the call but stressed the autonomy of football’s judicial system.
“Fifa’s judicial bodies are independent,” Infantino said. “They operate autonomously, apply the Fifa Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them.”
He added that while he does not always agree with disciplinary decisions, he respects the independence of the bodies responsible for them.
Trump, however, maintained that the challenge leading to Balogun’s sending-off was wrongly judged and questioned the severity of the punishment.
“That wasn’t a foul. That wasn’t even an infraction. That was two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other,” he said.
The US President also described the match official, Brazilian referee Raphael Claus, as “very suspect,” suggesting journalists review his record without providing further detail.
Trump further argued that suspending a player for a future match felt “very unfair,” especially during a high-stakes tournament.
“It’s one thing to penalize somebody for the game. But how do you penalize them for a game that hasn’t been played yet?” he said.
The controversy has drawn political reaction in Washington, with Republican Senator Ted Cruz publicly thanking Trump during an Oval Office event.
“On behalf of all Americans, thank you for getting rid of that ridiculous red card,” Cruz said.
Trump responded briefly: “That was interesting.”
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter also criticised the development, warning against political interference in football decisions.
“Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies,” Blatter said. “Football must never become a playground for political power.”
Despite the controversy, Trump praised FIFA’s eventual decision to restore Balogun’s eligibility, insisting the outcome was necessary for the integrity of the tournament.
Balogun remains a key figure for the United States, having scored in the match before his dismissal, and is currently the team’s leading scorer at the tournament.
The USA are set to face Belgium in a highly anticipated quarter-final clash, with the availability of Balogun seen as a major boost for the squad.
