Trump Calls for Review of Balogun’s Red Card

On Monday, President Donald Trump stated he has requested FIFA to reconsider its decision to issue a red card to U.S. men’s soccer team player Folarin Balogun during last week’s World Cup victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Balogun received the red card following a VAR review of an incident where he stepped on a defender’s ankle. Initially, he was expected to be suspended for the upcoming match against Belgium, but FIFA ultimately decided on a one-match suspension. Sources close to the situation revealed that Trump reached out to FIFA President Gianni Infantino to advocate for reconsideration.

In the Oval Office, Trump addressed the matter: “What I did was ask for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul. Honestly, I think it was just two athletes getting tangled up. It wasn’t an act of violence.”

He expressed concern about the impact of Balogun’s potential absence on the championship, emphasizing that “it would have been a huge mistake not allowing the team’s best player to compete.” Trump mentioned that he hoped for a decision that allowed the best players to shine, saying, “I didn’t tell them what to do, but I think they arrived at the right choice.” He added that if Messi or Ronaldo faced a similar situation, his reaction would be the same.

Continuing, Trump argued that excluding Balogun would have tarnished the championship. “We have to feature the best players, and the same goes for Belgium’s team. It’s about giving everyone the chance to perform well. If we lose, that’s sports, but it should be on fair terms.” He criticized the referee’s decision, noting, “The whole red card situation felt overly harsh. I just couldn’t believe it.”

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) stated they have reached out to FIFA for clarification on the decision-making process while expressing their concerns. The RBFA noted FIFA responded only by stating that their inquiry would be treated as an appeal, giving them limited time to act and failing to provide comprehensive information.

RBFA emphasized that for any appeal to succeed, FIFA must first communicate a reasoned decision. They voiced discomfort with FIFA drafting the appeal, which was then deemed inadmissible right away.

Before concluding, RBFA mentioned it is committed to ensuring fair play and ethical standards in sports, regardless of the match outcome. The United States is set to face Belgium in the Round of 16 on Monday at 8 PM ET.