Trump, FIFA and the Balogun controversy

For a time, football seemed to have trumped politics at the 2026 World Cup. Cape Verde took world champions Argentina to the wire, Paraguay knocked out Germany and Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe battled it out for the top scorer’s Golden Boot – the focus was on the pitch.

But just before Norway beat Brazil and England eliminated tournament co-hosts Mexico in one of the tournament’s best matches, Donald Trump put his thumb on the World Cup scale. Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump confirmed widespread reports that he had asked world soccer governors FIFA to review the suspension of U.S. striker Folarin Balogun after a red card in the round of 16 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina because he “didn’t think it was a foul.”

“I thought it was two great athletes who crashed and tangled,” the 80-year-old said.

“I think that [the suspension] would have left a big stain. I can’t tell them what to do. I don’t believe they made the decision; I believe it was the commission that made the decision. And it was the right decision.”

FIFA criticized for withdrawing red card at World Cup

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His intervention appears to have led FIFA to remove the regulation prohibiting red card calls and declare that “the automatic match suspension against American player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year.” FIFA cited Article 27, a general provision that allows it to “totally or partially suspend the application of a disciplinary measure.”

American Folarin Balogun was sent off following a VAR review of his foul on Bosnian player Tarik Muharemovic Image: Phil Noble/REUTERS

The decision came just over 48 hours before the United States faced Belgium in the quarterfinals. Trump celebrated the event with a message on his Truth Social platform that read: “Thank you FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice!”

Trump’s close relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who created the FIFA Peace Prize to recognize Trump in December, came under scrutiny in the build-up to the tournament and will now be scrutinized again.

What was the reaction of the United States and Belgium to the Balogun decision?

Belgium, as you might expect, is not happy. The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) reacted on Sunday with a statement of strong condemnation, saying it was “surprised” by this decision.

“I didn’t know that July 5 was equal to April 1 [April Fools’ Day] to FIFA”, joked the Belgian coach, Rudi Garcia, visibly angry, during his pre-match press conference.

On Monday, The Athletic reported that the URBSFA had won the right to appeal the decision to a member of the FIFA appeals committee not associated with UEFA, the European Football Confederation or its North American equivalent, CONCACAF. Judgment on this appeal could come up to 12 hours before the quarter-finals kick off.

Later that day, the URBSFA issued a scathing statement. They claimed that FIFA had “refused to respond to URBSFA’s legitimate requests” for information about the decision and that “while URBSFA was simply seeking legitimate explanations, FIFA itself filed an appeal and immediately ensured that it was declared inadmissible.” The federation also promised to “continue to fight in the hours, days and months to come to defend the fundamental principles of ethics, fair competition and the interests of football as a whole.”

Garcia’s opposing coach Mauricio Pochettino suggested the issues had been “conflated” by those with an unspecified “agenda”.

“If anyone was hurt in this whole situation, it was the United States. Can anyone justify the idea that we weren’t punished? I mean, playing 30 or 35 minutes without a man in a World Cup knockout match? It’s not like we benefit from it. At the end of the day, we’re not victims, but we’re not the villains in this story either.”

How did the rest of the football world react to FIFA’s decision?

Those without skin in the game have, almost universally, supported the Belgian point of view. The United States clearly isn’t the only team in the tournament frustrated by a decision they believe was incorrect. UEFA, which is increasingly at odds with FIFA, said the turnaround “crossed a red line” in a statement released Monday.

Norway coach Stale Solbakken reprimanded Infantino’s organization even before Trump’s involvement became clear.

“It’s a big mistake on the part of FIFA. It’s not a good conclusion. He received a red card and the VAR concluded that it was a red card. That means you are suspended for one match,” he said. “I think what’s really bad about this situation is that if the United States beats Belgium, they will still have that little extra. The Belgians will be furious.”

Norway beat Brazil on Sunday, but their coach still criticized FIFAImage: Takuya Matsumoto/AP Photo/picture alliance

The German Football Association, represented by DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, demanded immediate clarification.

“The impression of active political interference in sport must be dispelled quickly and definitively. The integrity of the competition and the credibility of FIFA are at stake,” he said, calling on FIFA to clarify Trump’s involvement.

His compatriot, England coach Thomas Tuchel, was among those who wondered whether this affair was now becoming a precedent.

“Where does it start and where does it end now? Can we undo it or not? What is happening? Where do we draw the line, that is the question I ask. I don’t have an answer to that question,” he said.

What could happen next in the Balogun case?

Pending the outcome of Belgium’s appeal, Tuchel’s questions will undoubtedly be among those considered by all the remaining federations in the tournament, and perhaps even some absent. If this red card can be suddenly rescinded, one wonders, why not the others? Or a disallowed goal? Or a yellow card resulting in a suspension for a key match?

Indeed, the French Football Federation (FFF) is considering appealing the questionable yellow card that Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Olise received during France’s round of 16 match against Paraguay, according to local media. Two yellow cards in different matches of the tournament mean a one-match suspension, the same punishment as Balogun was provided.

Michael Olise is on the tightrope after a yellow card, unless France appeals and winsImage: Charly Triballeau/AFP

FIFA could be prepared for an avalanche of complaints and appeals. It remains to be seen whether other heads of state or government will get involved in this matter, or whether they will have Infantino’s ear in the same way.

With discontent already high with FIFA, there are questions about whether the decision could have far-reaching implications for Infantino and his organization.

Has a World Cup red card ever been overturned?

Not exactly. Brazilian Garrincha was sent off against Chile in the semi-final of the 1962 tournament, but played as Brazil won the final. However, at that time bans were decided by a committee, rather than an automatic one-match suspension.

A closer precedent came shortly before this tournament. Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo received a three-match suspension for a red card in a World Cup qualifying match ahead of the tournament. However, days after meeting with Trump for a White House dinner in November, the ban was reduced from three matches to one, with the other two matches suspended for a year’s probation, as in Balogun’s case. Cristiano Ronaldo served a one-match suspension against Armenia and did not miss any of Portugal’s World Cup matches.

Edited by: Chuck Penfold

This article was first published on June 6 and updated the same day to reflect statements from Donald Trump and the URBSFA.

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