Donald Trump reportedly stepped in after a controversial red card decision sparked outrage across American soccer. The call from the White House just rewrote 60 years of World Cup history.
Donald Trump contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino about the case, claims report
Trump contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino about Folarin Balogun’s one-game World Cup suspension, the New York Times reports. Trump reportedly called Infantino on Wednesday and asked him to review the ban. FIFA then surprisingly reversed the suspension, marking the first such reversal in over 60 years of World Cup history.
Balogun received a controversial red card during the USMNT’s 2-0 victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday. That red card triggered an automatic one-game suspension without appeal, following standard FIFA procedure. The 25-year-old striker has scored three goals across three World Cup appearances this tournament.
Trump celebrated the reversal on his Truth Social account after the announcement. “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” the president wrote on Truth Social. FIFA cited Article 27 of its disciplinary code to justify suspending the ban for a probationary period of one year.
A U.S. official confirmed that the government provided additional evidence directed to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee. The government’s focus centered on referees reviewing a slow-motion replay before issuing the red card. “Ultimately the correct and proper outcome was achieved,” the official stated.
Belgium’s Royal Football Association expressed strong disapproval of FIFA’s unprecedented decision. “The RBFA is astonished” by the reversal and argued it flouts FIFA’s written rules, the association said. Belgium added that it is currently investigating all potential options in response.
Balogun can now play for the USMNT against Belgium in Monday’s Round of 16 match in Seattle. The match kicks off at 8 p.m. ET, with the winner advancing to face either Portugal or Spain. Trump has maintained a close relationship with Infantino throughout the tournament, which the U.S. co-hosts with Mexico and Canada.
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Mandatory.com.
