President Donald Trump has waded into international soccer controversy, personally urging FIFA President Gianni Infantino to reexamine a disputed red card that sidelined U.S. Men’s National Team forward Folarin Balogun during the World Cup. Trump dismissed the penalty as “horrible” and “unfair,” insisting the call was a mistake.
“All I did, I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul,” Trump told reporters on July 6 in the Oval Office. “I saw the play, and I’m a person who loves sports and was a good athlete. That wasn’t a foul. That wasn’t even an infraction.”
The president confirmed he had contacted Infantino, a frequent golf partner and ally, to discuss the incident and Balogun’s subsequent suspension. The move marks an unusual direct intervention by a U.S. leader in a FIFA disciplinary matter, raising questions about the line between diplomacy and sportsmanship.
Trump defended his involvement, framing it as a simple request for fairness. “I’m just asking them to take another look,” he said. “It’s not about politics. It’s about getting the call right.”
