FIFA just did something it hasn’t done in 64 years: reverse a World Cup red-card suspension. The reason? The President of the United States picked up the phone.
On July 5, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee announced it would suspend US striker Folarin Balogun’s automatic one-match ban, imposed after he received a red card during the US men’s national team’s 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1. The decision came after President Donald Trump made at least three calls to FIFA President Gianni Infantino on July 2 and July 5, arguing the red card was unwarranted.
What actually happened
Balogun’s red card came during the group stage match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a game the US won comfortably. Under standard FIFA rules, a red card triggers an automatic one-match suspension, which would have kept Balogun out of the Round of 16.
Trump’s calls to Infantino resulted in FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee announcing a novel resolution: the ban would be “suspended” for a one-year probationary period. Any further infractions during that window could reinstate the original sanction.
