President Donald Trump has confirmed he personally asked Fifa to review the red card shown to United States striker Folarin Balogun, a move that has thrust the tournament into a bitter dispute hours before the host nation faces Belgium in the last 16.
Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump said he contacted Fifa president Gianni Infantino because he “didn’t think it was a foul”. The US president insisted he did not pressure the governing body, but sources told the Guardian that Trump made three calls to Fifa starting last Wednesday seeking the reversal.
“Trump confirms he asked Fifa to review Balogun red card, sparking World Cup controversy.”
Fifa had already stunned the football world on Sunday by suspending Balogun’s automatic one-match ban for 12 months, freeing the 25-year-old to face Belgium on Monday night. The decision came after Balogun was sent off in the previous round for a challenge on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic.
“All I did was ask for a review,” Trump told reporters. “I didn’t tell him what to do. I can’t tell him what to do.” He added that a ban would have left a “big stain” on the tournament and said referee Raphael Claus’s decision was “horrible”, calling the Brazilian “a little bit suspect”. The Brazilian football confederation (CBF) defended Claus, stating: “There is nothing in his record that discredits him or gives grounds for any suspicion.”
Belgium reacted with fury. The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it was “astonished” and told the US Soccer Federation it “contests the eligibility” of Balogun playing. Fifa dismissed Belgium’s appeal on the grounds that it is “not a party to the proceedings”.
European governing body Uefa accused Fifa of crossing “a red line”, warning the decision undermined “the integrity of the game and the credibility of the competition”. England manager Thomas Tuchel also criticised the move.
Infantino issued a statement saying that during his call with Trump, he explained there was “an ongoing legal process involving Fifa’s independent judicial bodies” and that their independence “must always be respected”. He insisted he played no role in the decision.
Trump, meanwhile, said of the red card: “That wasn’t a foul. That wasn’t even an infraction. These were two great athletes that got tangled up.” He added: “If he punched him in the face, if he did something wrong, I’d feel differently.”
Belgium have not ruled out further legal action, saying the dismissal of their appeal “leaves all further actions open”. With kick-off in Seattle set for 17:00 local time, the question remains whether Balogun will take the field – and whether the match will be overshadowed by a diplomatic storm.