President Trump’s Involvement in the Balogun Red Card Incident

President Trump intervened following the suspension of U.S. Men’s National Team player Folarin Balogun during the 2026 World Cup. Balogun received a red card for stepping on Tarik Muharemović’s ankle in a match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, resulting in a one-game suspension.

Trump reported that he saw the play and contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino, requesting a review of the incident. Initially, Balogun’s suspension was reversed, but the decision remains controversial and subject to appeal.

In an Oval Office statement, Trump emphasized that he witnessed the play and believed Balogun’s actions did not constitute a foul. He described the situation as an accident between two athletes competing at full speed. “These were two great athletes that got tangled up,” he noted.

“I’m a person that loves sports and was a good athlete,” Trump said. “That wasn’t a foul. That wasn’t even an infraction.”

The President criticized the referee’s decision and suggested some level of suspicion regarding the official’s past decisions. Despite his knowledge of sports, Trump admitted he initially misunderstood the implications of a red card, which he later learned meant missing the next game.

Although Trump requested a review from Infantino, he insisted that he did not dictate FIFA’s actions or take credit for the reversal. “I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul,” he stated.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino responded in a statement highlighting that the organization’s judicial bodies are independent. He mentioned that while he regularly receives calls from various leaders and officials, the case involving Balogun would be handled through FIFA’s legal processes. “That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold,” Infantino said.