FIFA reverses USA forward Balogun's red card after President Trump intervenes
FIFA annulled the suspension of U.S. striker Folarin Balogun following a phone call from President Donald Trump, prompting criticism from officials and experts who say the move undermines the sport's disciplinary process.
The FIFA disciplinary committee lifted the one-match ban imposed on U.S. forward Folarin Balogen after he received a red card for a challenge on Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic in the round-of-32. The reversal was announced hours before the United States faced Belgium in the knockout stage in Seattle. President Donald Trump had called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked for a review of the case, a request Infantino acknowledged in a statement.
Infantino said the organization’s judicial bodies are independent and that the decision to overturn the suspension was made according to the FIFA Disciplinary Code, but he also confirmed he had spoken with the U.S. president, adding that he regularly receives calls from heads of state and other stakeholders.
Sports-industry scholars and former FIFA officials criticised the episode as a breach of ethical standards. Simon Chadwick, a professor at Emlyon Business School, said the incident “sets a very dangerous precedent” and suggested that political interference could compromise the sport’s governance. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter also warned that red-card decisions should be based on rules and evidence, not political pressure.
The controversy has sparked reactions from coaches and commentators, with England manager Thomas Tuchel questioning how far such interventions might go. Critics argue the episode highlights concerns about commercial and geopolitical influences on football’s governing bodies.