Trump Intervenes in Balogun Red Card Decision
US President Donald Trump said he spoke with FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of the red card issued to striker Folarin Balogun during the United States' 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32. The red card, shown in the 64th minute, initially triggered an automatic one-match suspension, but FIFA later suspended the ban under Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, allowing Balogun to play in Monday's Round of 16 match against Belgium at Seattle Stadium.
Trump's Remarks on the Incident
In a video shared by C-SPAN on X, Trump told reporters that he had spoken with Infantino and questioned the referee's decision. He described the incident as a normal collision between two players running at full speed and argued that Balogun did nothing wrong. "I spoke to Gianni who's highly respected. 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... He (Balogun) didn't do anything wrong, and he's one of our best players, a very vital player, and he gave him a red card. So, yes I asked for a review by FIFA. I spoke to a man who's highly respected. I asked for a review because I didn't think it was a foul," Trump said.
FIFA's Decision and Belgian Opposition
FIFA announced that the implementation of Balogun's automatic match suspension was suspended for a probationary period of one year, citing Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. However, the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) strongly opposed the decision, calling it surprising and stating it is exploring all legal avenues to protect its interests. In an official statement, the RBFA argued that Article 66.4 of the same code clearly mandates an automatic suspension following a red card, as has been applied in all previous cases during the tournament.
Impact on US Team and Balogun
The decision is a significant boost for head coach Mauricio Pochettino, as Balogun has emerged as one of the USA's standout performers, scoring three goals in the World Cup so far. The 25-year-old New York-born striker is expected to lead the line against Belgium. US Senator Ted Cruz also thanked Trump for getting the red card overturned, calling it "ridiculous" and hailing the move as "spectacular."
