Foul Play
USMNT striker Folarin Balogun, a birthright citizen, had been suspended for Monday’s game against Belgium
Donald Trump admitted to personally pressuring FIFA officials to vacate a one-game suspension for Folarin Balogun after the American striker received a controversial red card during last week’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup round of 32.
“I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul,” Trump told reporters on Monday.
FIFA rules explicitly prohibit government interference on behalf of players or federations. According to a Sunday report from Politico, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and White House FIFA World Cup Task Force executive director Andrew Giuliani — son of Rudy Giuliani — immediately moved to challenge the red card by involving the top levels of American government. Trump reportedly placed a direct call to FIFA President Gianni Infantino asking for the decision to be reviewed, while Lutnick and Giuliani suggested that White House attorneys be involved in the supposed appeal.