Donald Trump confirmed he personally called Fifa president Gianni Infantino to request a review of Folarin Balogun's red card. Photo: AFP
US president Donald Trump on Monday afternoon confirmed that he did in fact contact Fifa regarding the sanction of American player Folarin Balogun ahead of that nation's Fifa World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash against Belgium on Tuesday morning (kick-off 2am).
Fifa find themselves embroiled in a controversy, apparently of their own making, after Trump made contact with the organisation's president, Gianni Infantino, on Sunday to request that Balogun's red card, received in the US's last 32 clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina, be rescinded. It was during that match that the 25-year old attempted a tackle on Tarik Muharemovic, only to stomp on the latter's ankle in a clumsy challenge.
Match referee Raphael Claus initially did not call a foul. However, VAR flagged the incident, and after an on-field review the referee returned to the pitch and showed Balogun a straight red card.
Fifa's Disciplinary Committee (DC) on Monday reviewed the incident and cleared Balogun to play against Belgium. Subsequently, Belgium's appeal to overturn that ruling has been denied.
