Trump calls FIFA boss to review Balogun’s red card ban

President Donald Trump has urged FIFA to reconsider a red card issued to USA forward Folarin Balogun during the World Cup group stage match against Iran, alleging the referee made an unfair decision. Trump contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino directly regarding the incident, which resulted in Balogun facing a one-match ban for the knockout stages. The U.S. team later benefited from FIFA suspending the ban, allowing Balogun to stay in the squad for the quarter-final against Netherlands.

Trump characterized the incident as a “collision” between two athletes, arguing that referee Raphael Claus made an “unbelievable” call. He cited a 2023 investigation into match-fixing allegations that cleared Claus. Trump stated, “He [Balogun] didn’t do anything wrong and he’s our best player, or one of our best players… and [the referee] gave him a red card. It’s very unfair, you can’t do that.”

Gianni Infantino confirmed receiving the call from Trump but emphasized that FIFA’s judicial bodies operate independently. In a statement, Infantino said, “FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football.”

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Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter criticized the decision on social media, stating, “Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies.” Blatter, who was banned from football for six years in 2021, warned that football must not become a “playground for political power.”

England manager Thomas Tuchel expressed concern over the implications of Trump’s intervention, asking, “Where to draw the line? That’s the question I ask and I have no answer to that – where does it end?” Tuchel added, “Do we appeal if a yellow card is not a yellow card? Do we not think it’s not a red card – where does it start and where does it end?”

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher said he expected Balogun to receive a three-match ban, noting, “If you catch someone on the Achilles with your studs, that’s dangerous.” He added, “I fully expected Balogun to get a three-match ban. I get it if they decide, our rules are for one match and then we decide to upgrade. The red card stands but the suspension doesn’t, that’s the confusing thing.”

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FIFA cited article 27 of its rules, which allows for the “full or partial suspension of the implementation of a disciplinary measure.” This rule was also applied to Cristiano Ronaldo in 2023, who faced a three-game ban for an elbow on Dara O’Shea but was allowed to play in the World Cup after the suspension was partially lifted.

Following FIFA’s decision, President Donald Trump posted on social media, “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice.” The White House later reposted the message with the words: “USA-USA-USA.”