Trump Confirms FIFA Call Over Balogun Red Card Suspension

U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that he personally contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino in an effort to overturn the suspension of United States striker Folarin Balogun ahead of Monday’s FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium. The decision has intensified controversy surrounding the tournament, with Belgium’s football authorities accusing FIFA of mishandling both the disciplinary process and the subsequent appeal.

Speaking during a news conference on Monday, Trump said he was “the one who got” FIFA to lift Balogun’s suspension after calling Infantino. He added that the referee “made a call that nobody could believe” and remarked that after learning what a red card meant, he responded, “you gotta be kidding!”

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it formally requested a detailed explanation from FIFA regarding the decision. According to the federation, FIFA treated its inquiry as a formal appeal and assigned a judge to review the case. The RBFA said it was given only a few hours to complete its appeal, with The New York Times reporting that FIFA set an 8 a.m. ET deadline for countries to submit appeal materials.

The Belgian federation stated that it had still not received either a decision or an explanation from FIFA and said it had “no alternative but to challenge the player’s eligibility for the upcoming match.” The RBFA had previously described the suspension reversal as “astonished,” arguing that FIFA’s disciplinary code mandates an automatic one-match suspension following a red card, a rule that has been consistently applied throughout the World Cup.

Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia criticized the decision during Sunday’s press conference, joking that he did not realize July 5 at the World Cup was “April Fool’s Day.” Garcia said Belgium would be playing not only for the national team and its football association but also “defending football with its ethics and integrity.” Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois acknowledged the surprise caused by the timing of the ruling but said the squad remained focused on the match itself.

UEFA also condemned FIFA’s decision in a strongly worded statement released Monday, saying the move had “crossed a red line.” The governing body said an automatic one-match suspension following a red card is a mandatory regulation that cannot be selectively waived during an ongoing tournament. UEFA concluded by expressing “disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.”

England manager Thomas Tuchel also questioned the ruling after England’s 3-2 Round of 16 victory over Mexico. England will face Norway in the quarter-finals without defender Jarell Quansah, who received a red card against Mexico’s Jesus Gallardo. Tuchel asked, “Who overturns this decision and when and on what grounds? And how far does this go now? It is just strange for me.” When asked whether England should ask Trump to intervene in Quansah’s suspension, Tuchel joked, “Maybe, that’s a good starting point.”

Former England captain Wayne Rooney described FIFA’s action as “an absolute disgrace,” adding, “Infantino should be ashamed of this. The sportsmanship of the game is in question here.” Former France international Thierry Henry said the late reversal likely disrupted Belgium’s tactical preparations. Although Henry believed Balogun should not have received a red card in the first place, he criticized FIFA for delaying its final decision until just before the knockout match.

Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp also questioned reports of Trump’s involvement, arguing that tournament rules should have prevented Balogun from playing regardless of opinions about the original red card. “This is our game, not theirs… If Trump and Infantino really worked this all out between themselves, that’s crazy. It calls everything into question,” Klopp said.