Trump admits asking Fifa boss for Balogun ban review despite not knowing what red card meant as Belgium threatens to sue
PRESIDENT Donald Trump has defended his chat with Fifa boss Gianni Infantino and slammed the referee who issued Team USA’s top scorer a red card.
The controversial red card reversal by Fifa just 24 hours before the United States’ pivotal Round of 16 clash with Belgium has sparked an uproar in the soccer world.
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Trump confirmed he called Infantino after Team USA’s Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and asked the Fifa president to review Folarin Balogun‘s foul in the 64th minute.
The American striker, 25, was issued a red card for stepping awkwardly on the right ankle of Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic, triggering a one-game suspension.
“All I did, I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday.
“I thought it was two great athletes who crashed into each other and got entangled.”
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The stunning ejection meant Balogun was due to miss Team USA’s crunch-time match against Belgium.
Trump slammed the referee Raphael Claus, of Brazil, and warned to check his “suspect” past.
“You can’t take your foot and properly place it on somebody else’s foot when you’re going – these are two great athletes that got tangled up,” he said.
“This referee, who is a little bit suspect, I don’t like to say that because I don’t like to create controversy. But very suspect.
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“If you like I’ll provide you with the past. He made a call nobody could believe. They said, you can’t play. That’s very unfair.”
Trump continued by saying he did not know what a red card signified, but when he learned that Balogun would miss the Round of 16, he “asked for a review by Fifa.”
“He gave him a red card, I didn’t know what that meant. Then I started hearing that means he can’t play in the next game,” he added.
“I said boy that’s big – you know if it happened to another player it would’ve been unfair.
“But when they take your best player, or just about, they have so many great players, and they say you can’t play that’s very unfair.
“It’s one thing to penalize someone for a game. But how do you penalize them for a game they haven’t even played yet. It’s very unfair. You can’t do that.
“So yes, I asked for a review by Fifa.”
Trump praised the reversal as “beautiful,” and commended Infantino as a “smart, tough man” whose “stock has gone through the roof.”
“I think the referee’s call was horrible. And nobody talks about that,” he said.
“They talk about the red card like it’s fine. The referee’s decision to red card. I didn’t know what the hell a red card was.
“When I found out I said you got to be kidding. This guy just hands up, ‘OK your best player is not going to play next week or in the next game.’
“I said wow that’s a lot of power, that’s terrible. But then I looked at his past and it wasn’t so great.”
Trump then threatened to reveal referee Claus’ “past,” adding, “This referee, who is a little bit suspect if you check his past.
“I don’t like to say that because I don’t like to create controversy. But very suspect. If you like I’ll provide you with the past.”
He hinted that if Belgium defeated Team USA in their Round of 16 game without their top scorer, it would be a “rigged” outcome.
“If they beat us, they can be very proud,” Trump said of Belgium.
“The other way, if they beat us, we’ll say – I say it was rigged, just like the election was rigged in 2020, but I won’t get into that.”
Texas Senator Ted Cruz praised Trump “on behalf of Americans,” saying, “Thanks for getting rid of that ridiculous red card.”
Fifa’s decision to overturn Balogun’s red card relied on Rule 27 of the disciplinary committee rule, which states, “The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.
“By suspending the implementation of the sanction, the judicial body subjects the person sanctioned to a probationary period of one to four years.”
The stunning ruling by Fifa marked the first time since 1962 that a player had their red card suspension overturned.
In 1962, Brazilian star Garrincha’s red card was reversed following intense political lobbying.
In November, Fifa also deferred the final two games of a three-match suspension for Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who was issued a red card against Ireland in a World Cup qualifier.
The ruling allowed Ronaldo to play at the start of the World Cup in June.
What is Rule 27 of FIFA Disciplinary Code
The key details from Rule 27 of FIFA's Disciplinary Code states that the soccer governing bodies have the power to "fully or partially suspend" any disciplinary measure.
The full language of Rule 27, titled “Suspension of Implementation of DIsciplinary Measure,” reads:
1. The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.
2. By suspending the implementation of the sanction, the judicial body subjects the person sanctioned to a probationary period of one to four years.
3. If the person benefiting from a suspended sanction commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked by the judicial body and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.
4. Disciplinary measures relating to match manipulation cannot be suspended.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has threatened to sue Fifa for its decision, stating that they were “astonished” by the “direct contradiction to the provisions of the World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations.”
“In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the Belgian FA is investigating all potential options,” the statement read.
Ahead of Monday’s clash, Belgium launched a last-minute appeal against Fifa’s U-turn on Balogun’s red card.
Belgium’s soccer bosses were granted the right to appeal Fifa’s decision to lift the ban on Balogun, requesting a full explanation of the process.
The Belgium FA confirmed in a statement to The Athletic that it had “no alternative but to challenge (Balogun’s) eligibility for the upcoming match.”
However, Fifa’s appeal committee ruled Belgium FA’s request “inadmissible.”
“The request was rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision,” Fifa ruled.
The decision clears the way for Balogun to suit-up for Team USA on Monday.
The US and Belgium’s Round of 16 start time is scheduled for 8pm EST.
Infantino, the Fifa president, confirmed his phone call with Trump in a statement on Monday, but reassured that the sport’s governing bodies are “independent” and operate “autonomously.”
“They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them,” Infantino said in a statement on Monday.
“Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected.
“Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues.
“During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies.
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“That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.
“Whether we personally like a decision or not is irrelevant. Respect for independent institutions and the rule of law is what protects the integrity of our competitions and the credibility of FIFA at all times.”