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Trump's alleged call to FIFA sparks outrage over Balogun's World Cup ban suspension

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • FIFA suspended striker Folarin Balogun's one-game ban for 1 year, allowing him to play against Belgium in the World Cup Round of 16.
  • Reports suggest U.S. President Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of the red card decision.
  • Belgium expressed shock and vowed to protect fair play, while UEFA criticized FIFA's decision as unprecedented and unjustifiable.

Folarin Balogun, a key striker for the U.S. men's national soccer team, will be eligible to play against Belgium in the World Cup Round of 16 after FIFA suspended his automatic one-game ban for a red card. The decision, which comes with a one-year probation period, marks the first time a player sent off in a World Cup has avoided the next match's suspension in 64 years, since Brazil's Garrincha in 1962.

The disciplinary committee's decision, in accordance with Article 27 of the disciplinary regulations, will suspend the execution of the one-game automatic suspension for U.S. player Balogun for a probationary period of one year.

— FIFAAnnouncing the suspension of Balogun's one-game ban.

Balogun received a red card for stepping on an opponent's ankle during the U.S. team's 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. His absence was seen as a major blow to the U.S. team's hopes of reaching the quarterfinals for the first time since the 2002 World Cup.

However, the situation has become mired in controversy with allegations that U.S. President Donald Trump intervened. The New York Times reported that Trump directly called FIFA President Gianni Infantino after the match to ask for a review of Balogun's suspension. White House officials, including Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House World Cup Task Force, reportedly sent legal memos to the U.S. Soccer Federation and even suggested the possibility of appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Shocked.

— Belgium Football AssociationExpressing their reaction to FIFA's decision.

FIFA maintains that the disciplinary committee made an independent decision. Nevertheless, the allegations have sparked outrage. Belgium's football association expressed "shock" and is considering all options to protect the rights of all participants and uphold fair play. UEFA issued a statement condemning the decision as a "red line crossed" and called it "unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustifiable."

We have crossed a red line. We regret the unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustifiable decision.

— UEFACondemning FIFA's decision regarding Balogun's suspension.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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