Trump says he saw World Cup play that led to Balogun's suspension

President Trump asserted that he personally observed the World Cup play that led to U.S. Men's National Team striker Folarin Balogun's one-game suspension. Balogun received a red card during a match against Bosnia and Herzegovina for stepping on an opponent's ankle, which would have made him ineligible for the subsequent game.

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I saw the play, and Balogun's move didn't constitute a foul or an infraction. That was two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other.

Trump informed reporters that he reviewed the incident and concluded it was not a foul or infraction, but rather an accidental collision between two players running at full speed. "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 said.

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I'm a person that loves sports and was a good athlete. And I understand sports really well. Really well. And that wasn't a foul. That wasn't even an infraction.

He revealed that he contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to discuss the play and request a review. Trump expressed his belief that the referee's call was "very suspect." He stated he asked for a review because he did not believe it was a foul, emphasizing that he did not instruct Infantino on what decision to make.

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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.

Following the review, FIFA reversed the one-match suspension. However, this reversal has drawn criticism and is reportedly facing an appeal. Trump, who described himself as a sports enthusiast and former athlete, maintained that Balogun committed no wrongdoing and that penalizing him for a future game would be "very unfair."

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All I did, I asked for a review because I didn't think it was a foul.