FIFA President Gianni Infantino issued a statement on July 6 responding to President Donald Trump’s very public request that the governing body review US striker Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension during the 2026 World Cup. Infantino’s message was diplomatic but firm: FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent, they operate autonomously, and they decide cases based on regulations and facts, not phone calls from heads of state.
What actually happened with Balogun
Trump told reporters he had personally asked Infantino whether FIFA would review the play that earned Balogun a red card. Trump reportedly called the suspension an “injustice” and described Balogun as “our best player.”
FIFA suspended Balogun’s automatic one-match ban under Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, placing it on a one-year probation period instead. In practical terms, Balogun gets to play in the upcoming match against Belgium while the card stays on his record.
FIFA’s crypto pivot and the Kraken partnership
