Trump claims he influenced Balogun’s ban reversal

U.S. President Donald Trump has stated he personally intervened with FIFA to review the red card issued to American striker Folarin Balogun, asserting the decision was unfair and would have wrongly penalized a key player.

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I saw the play. I’m a person who loves sports and was a good athlete. I understand sports really well. 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.

Trump told reporters that he viewed the play and believed the collision between Balogun and an opponent was accidental, not a foul. "I saw the play," Mr. Trump said. "I’m a person who loves sports and was a good athlete. I understand sports really well. 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."

Balogun received a straight red card during the United States' Round of 32 victory, automatically triggering a one-match ban under FIFA World Cup regulations. Trump expressed his dismay upon learning the consequence. "And he gave him a red card. I didn’t know what that meant," the president said. "I didn’t think it meant much. Then I started hearing that that means he can’t play in the next game, at least in the next game."

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And he gave him a red card. I didn’t know what that meant. I didn’t think it meant much. Then I started hearing that that means he can’t play in the next game, at least in the next game.

He described the penalty as excessive, particularly for a top player. "I said, boy, that’s a big penalty. If it had happened to another player, it would have been unfair. But when they take your best player, or just about; they have some great players, and they say you can’t play, that’s very unfair," Trump stated. He also questioned the logic of penalizing a player for a future match.

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I said, boy, that’s a big penalty. If it had happened to another player, it would have been unfair. But when they take your best player, or just about; they have some great players, and they say you can’t play, that’s very unfair.

Trump confirmed his direct contact with FIFA, though he did not name the official he spoke with, widely believed to be FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The U.S. president also questioned the referee's decision, calling the official "a little bit suspect" and suggesting the call was unbelievable. FIFA subsequently suspended Balogun's ban, allowing him to play against Belgium in the Round of 16, a move that has generated significant controversy.

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So yes, I asked for a review by FIFA. I spoke to a man who’s highly respected and, by the way, whose level of respect has gone up tenfold.