United States President Donald Trump has confirmed that he personally asked FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the red card shown to United States striker Folarin Balogun during 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting he only sought a fresh assessment of the incident rather than demanding the decision be overturned.
Gatekeepers News reports that according to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump said he believed Balogun’s dismissal in the Round of 32 clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina was unjustified, describing the incident as a collision between two players running at full speed rather than a foul deserving a red card. He maintained that his request was limited to a review of the referee’s decision.
The striker was initially handed an automatic one-match suspension following his sending-off. However, FIFA later suspended the ban, making Balogun eligible to feature in the United States’ Round of 16 encounter against Belgium. The governing body said the decision was taken under its disciplinary rules, although the move has generated widespread debate.
The reversal has drawn criticism from several quarters, including Belgium’s football authorities and UEFA, with critics arguing that the decision could undermine the integrity of the competition. FIFA, however, has maintained that its judicial bodies acted independently in handling the case.
United States President Donald Trump has confirmed that he personally asked FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the red card shown to United States striker Folarin Balogun during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting he only sought a fresh assessment of the incident rather than demanding the decision be overturned.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump said he believed Balogun’s dismissal in the Round of 32 clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina was unjustified, describing the incident as a collision between two players running at full speed rather than a foul deserving a red card. He maintained that his request was limited to a review of the referee’s decision.
The striker was initially handed an automatic one-match suspension following his sending-off. However, FIFA later suspended the ban, making Balogun eligible to feature in the United States’ Round of 16 encounter against Belgium. The governing body said the decision was taken under its disciplinary rules, although the move has generated widespread debate.
The reversal has drawn criticism from several quarters, including Belgium’s football authorities and UEFA, with critics arguing that the decision could undermine the integrity of the competition. FIFA, however, has maintained that its judicial bodies acted independently in handling the case.
