President Donald Trump has intervened in a World Cup controversy, asking FIFA to review the red card issued to United States men's national team forward Folarin Balogun during last week's knockout stage victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The intervention led to FIFA overturning the one-game suspension, allowing Balogun to play in the Round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump explained that he requested a review of the incident, which occurred when Balogun stepped on the ankle of a defender during a challenge. The referee initially issued a yellow card, but after a VAR review, upgraded it to a red card. Trump argued that the play was not a foul but rather two athletes colliding during a competitive moment. He stated, «All I did was, I asked for a review, because I didn’t think it was a foul. I thought it was two great athletes who crashed into each other and got entangled.»
Trump emphasized that the decision to suspend Balogun would have been a «big stain» on the tournament, particularly given the stakes of the knockout stage. He noted that the same principle would apply if global stars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, or Harry Kane were similarly penalized. «If you would have taken him out, I think it would have really stained this incredible championship,» Trump said. «We gotta have our best players, and Belgium’s got a great team by the way. We have our best players, and they have to have their best. If we win or we lose, it’s fair.»
The president criticized the referee's initial call, calling it «horrible» and questioning the use of red cards in soccer. He added that he had looked into the referee's history and found it «wasn’t so great.» Trump clarified that he did not directly instruct FIFA President Gianni Infantino to overturn the decision, noting that a committee made the final ruling. A source confirmed to Fox News that Trump had asked Infantino to have the organization review the incident.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) expressed frustration with FIFA's handling of the situation, claiming that the organization had not provided adequate transparency. In a statement, the RBFA said it sent a letter to FIFA requesting a copy of the decision and an explanation of the process, but FIFA responded by treating the correspondence as an appeal and appointing a judge with only a few hours for the RBFA to complete the appeal. The RBFA argued that FIFA's own regulations require the reasoned decision to be communicated before an appeal can be considered admissible. «Regardless of the sporting outcome of this match, the RBFA is deeply concerned by the course of events and will continue to fight in the coming hours, days and months in defence of the fundamental principles of ethics, fair competition, and the interests of football as a whole,» the association said.
The controversy has added a layer of political and diplomatic tension to what is already a high-stakes match. The United States and Belgium face off in the Round of 16 on Monday at 8 p.m. ET, with both teams seeking a spot in the quarterfinals. Balogun, who has been a key player for the USMNT, will now be available to play, a development that Trump described as the right decision for the sport. «They made a really brilliant decision,» he said.
The incident has also sparked broader discussions about the role of VAR in soccer and the consistency of disciplinary actions during major tournaments. Critics have pointed to the lack of clear communication from FIFA regarding the process, while supporters of the decision argue that the red card was overly harsh. The USMNT will look to capitalize on Balogun's presence as they aim to advance further in the World Cup.
