Trump Asked FIFA to Review Balogun's Suspension. He Is Now Eligible to Play.

[Prairie Gates]

Source: The New York Times

President Trump called Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, on Wednesday and asked him to review the suspension of the United States’ top goal scorer, Folarin Balogun, after he was given a red card in the team’s match that night against Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to three people familiar with the conversation.

On Sunday, FIFA announced that Mr. Balogun would be eligible to play Monday against Belgium after his red card ban was suspended.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/05/us/trump-fifa-balogun-world-cup.html

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The NEW info here is that Trump intervened.

Absolutely beyond belief.

[AZJonnie]

1. 100% predictable the world's worst pathological narcissist would feel a need to throw his influence around

and corrupt the entire proceeding. Because "Corrupt" is the dude's middle name. And in so doing, no doubt piss off the entire WORLD in the process.

[slingsam]

11. I didn't know that July 4th was April 1st in the USA

Said the Belgian coach!!

[no_hypocrisy]

2. If the U.S. wins the World Cup, let there be permanently placed an asterisk

next to it. This was outright interference with the series.

[Prairie Gates]

3. Oh, the US is going to lose, probably tomorrow

The only difference is that now the whole world will be cheering when they do.

Alexi Lalas, with his usual clownish bluster, was welcoming the world's contempt. Well, you got it now, buddy.

[Polybius]

15. I hear what you're saying, but the Red Flag was a total BS call anyway

I'm glad it was reversed, I just wish Trump had nothing to do with it.

[Prairie Gates]

16. The Red Flag?

Good Lord.

[Polybius]

20. Red card, sorry

American here, soccer isn't our first language.

[Prairie Gates]

21. And yet so confident in your judgments about it

I suppose that's also very American.

[Polybius]

23. Oh please

I saw the reply, I saw the commentary. I messed up one word and you're getting testy.

[sop]

19. I suspect Infantino wanted the call kept secret, knowing it would be an international sports scandal if everyone

found out, but Trump wanted the whole world to know just what a powerful and influential man he is.

[Cheezoholic]

4. This is no surprise AT ALL. FIFA is one of the most corrupt sporting org's in the world if not the most

It was obvious with Ronaldo at the beginning of this and it's obvious here. This is not the first time corruption laid its ugly head in the lap of FIFA. Far from it. It lives there. It's about billions. Always is.

[kurtyboy]

5. This was my first suspicion

FIFA may be the only thing as corrupt as Trump....

Edited to add: Isn't it ironic that Trump did this for a birthright citizen?

[BlueTsunami2018]

7. That's the right call regardless of Piss intervening.

Never should have been a red card on that play in the first place.

[sarisataka]

8. Unusual but not unique

Ronaldo came into the World Cup carrying a two-match suspension that would have kept him out of Portugal's first group stage games. He was given the same probation, if the player receives a red card in the next year the suspensions are reinstated in addition to and punishment for that red card

The US team also had a strong case in that Messi committed a similar and more intentional foul that was not penalized in the match or afterward. Ignoring Messi, and giving Ronaldo a probation, while punishing Balogun would be blatant favoritism to the big-name players.

[LeftInTX]

13. What's weird is that POTUS was involved in this!

I don't follow much sports, much less the World Cup, but this is weird to me.
I know FIFA is corrupt, so maybe that's why?

[sarisataka]

14. They have been kissing his ass lately

birds of a feather I suppose

[Adeptus2272]

9. Good to know the President finally tackled the nation's most pressing issue:

A red card...

[BidenRocks]

10. Balogun should sit it out.

There is no honor in this!

[Polybius]

12. He's not an idiot, he won't hurt the team for pride

Plus he knows it was a BS call anyway.

[Wonder Why]

17. There goes another $1B of our tax money, half to FIFA. The rest to Cheeto Pedo.

[Skittles]

18. "Cheeto Pedo"

[republianmushroom]

22. A little "ASS" kissing ?

World, this is your international soccer governing body kissing trump ass.