Trump Confirms Contact With FIFA Over Balogan Ban
Trump confirmed contacting FIFA to request review of striker Folarin Balogan's red card suspension from the World Cup 2026, though he denied ordering the federation to overturn the ban.
US President Donald Trump confirmed he contacted FIFA to request a review of the red card suspension given to American striker Folarin Balogan, as previously reported. However, Trump insisted he did not order FIFA to take any action.
Balogan received a red card in the Round of 32 World Cup 2026 match where the US defeated Bosnia 2-0, after a VAR review deemed his collision with Tarik Muharemovic a dangerous play. Typically, the 25-year-old striker would face a match ban.
However, FIFA subsequently suspended the ban and converted it to a one-year suspended sentence instead, allowing Balogan to return for the Round of 16 match against Belgium on July 6. This decision sparked heavy criticism that FIFA violated its own rules. Reports indicated Trump had contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request reconsideration of Balogan's punishment before the penalty was modified.
Most recently, Trump said: "I asked for a review because I didn't think it was a foul. I thought it was just a moment when two athletes collided and got tangled. I don't know how it was a red card, but I didn't tell them what to do. I think a match ban would have left a big mark, but I couldn't order them to do anything. I don't believe Infantino made the decision alone—it was likely a committee that decided. And it turned out to be the right decision."
