Donald Trump Says He Asked FIFA to Review Folarin Balogun’s Red Card
United States President Donald Trump has revealed that he personally requested FIFA to review the controversial red card shown to USA striker Folarin Balogun during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying the governing body’s decision to revisit the incident was the correct one.
According to the BBC, Trump’s comments came a day after he publicly thanked FIFA for suspending Balogun’s one-match ban, a ruling that cleared the forward to feature in the United States’ Round of 16 clash against Belgium after his dismissal against Bosnia and Herzegovina sparked widespread debate.
Speaking on Monday, Trump argued that it was unfair for a player to be suspended beyond the match in which the offence occurred.
“It’s one thing to penalise somebody for the game, but how do you penalise them for a game that hasn’t been played yet? It’s very unfair, you can’t do that,” Trump said.
The US President went on to reveal that he personally contacted FIFA to request a review of the referee’s decision.
“Yes, I asked for a review by FIFA. I spoke to a man who is highly respected, whose level of respect has gone up tenfold, and he was good before this started but he really pushed it in this country.
“I’m the one who got them to do it (bring the World Cup to America). It was not Joe Biden. I got the Olympics and I got the World Cup. We gave a little piece to Canada, a little piece to Mexico, but I got that myself.”
Trump maintained that Balogun had done nothing to deserve a red card, describing the striker as one of the United States’ most important players.
“He didn’t do anything wrong. He’s our best player, or one of our best players, and the referee gave him a red card.
“Then I started hearing that means he can’t play in the next game. If it happened to another player that would have been unfair, but when they take your best player, or just about, and they say you can’t play, that is very unfair.”
The President also criticised the referee’s performance, suggesting the official’s decision had surprised both teams.
“This referee, who is a little bit suspect. If you check his past, I don’t want to say that because I don’t like to create controversy, but very suspect.
“He made a call that nobody could believe. Even people on the other side, they were saying, ‘We got lucky, wow.'”
On Sunday, Trump welcomed FIFA’s decision to suspend Balogun’s ban, writing on his Truth Social platform: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!”
The decision means Balogun is available for selection as the United States take on Belgium in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16.
