President Trump confirms role in FIFA review, rescinds Folarin Balogun red card: ‘They made the right decision’

In a shocking move Sunday, the United States men’s national team learned that forward Folarin Balogun would be available for Monday’s Round of 16 match against Belgium after his red card was rescinded.

It was reported that President Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Wednesday and asked the World Cup governing body to reconsider Balogun’s ban. On Monday, Trump confirmed as much, taking credit for overturning the call: “Everything I did, I asked for a review, because I didn’t think it was wrong,” he said.

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The Chairman has repeatedly said that he merely suggested what should be done and did not tell the committee what should happen.

“I didn’t tell them what to do, I can’t tell them what to do. … I think it was a committee that made the decision, and they made the right decision.”

President Trump gave examples of what he believed to be similar cases, explaining what would have happened if Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Harry Kane had “hit someone” and not been allowed to play.

He added that it would have “stained this incredible championship” and that teams deserve to have the best players possible. President Trump ended his response by questioning the referee’s past, saying “it wasn’t that great,” but he did not specify what he meant.

The president spoke about the decision to suspend the red card and what it means for the Belgian approach to the game.

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“The Belgians, if they win the match, they can be very proud. If they had won the match with a player absent, the feeling would have been different. You can’t do that, and I’m very happy. All I did was ask for an evaluation. I didn’t say: ‘You have to do this.’

Infantino also confirmed on Monday that Trump had called him about the red card, but said he did not influence the decision because “FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously.”

“Yes, I regularly discuss issues related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter I received a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, soccer stakeholders and business leaders around the world on many different issues,” Infantino said in a statement. “During our conversation, I explained that legal proceedings were underway involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the matter would be decided in due course by the competent authorities. This is how the FIFA system works, and it is a principle that I will always respect.

“I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are handed down. Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I do not agree.

“But what I always do is respect these decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them. Whether we 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.”

FIFA also rejected Belgium’s appeal on Monday.

Balogun was expected to be suspended for the match after receiving a red card in the United States’ victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The striker tried to recover the ball against defender Tarik Muharemović, but he was booked for a foul which was reviewed.

After examination, which when slowed down showed that Balogun was clearly stepping on the defender’s ankle, he received a red card and was sent off early in the second half of the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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The red card came with an automatic one-match suspension, in accordance with Article 10.5 of the FIFA World Cup regulations. The Athletic also reported that after the match, several FIFA officials said teams were unable to appeal resulting red cards or suspensions.

FIFA released a statement regarding the decision. “Pursuant to Article 27 of the FDC, the implementation of the automatic match suspension for American player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year.”

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