Is it true that Trump influenced the suspension of Folarin Balogun’s red card?

Home Sport Is it true that Trump influenced the suspension of Folarin Balogun’s red card?
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July 6, 2026July 6, 2026By Mario Vásquez
Is it true that Trump influenced the suspension of Folarin Balogun’s red card?

FIFA announced the suspension of the sanction for red card of the footballer Folarin Balogunso the player was qualified to play the match against Belgium in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

The American network CNN reported that the president Donald Trump spoke with the president of FIFAGianni Infantino, after Balogun was reprimanded and asked him to review the decision made during the round of 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a match that ended with a 2-0 victory in favor of the United States.

A report of TheAthletic confirmed that the Disciplinary Commission of the football governing body used article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, which allows the judicial body to totally or partially suspend the application of a sanction during a trial period.

Balogun was sent off in the 64th minute after a VAR review for a foul against Tarik Muharemović. The striker has been one of the main figures of the attack led by coach Mauricio Pochettino during the tournament, with three goals.

Now, the sanction is suspendedaccording to the commission, for a “one-year trial period.”

The diary ACE appointment to The New York Timeswhich reported on the conversation between Trump and Infantinoafter the red card put the American team’s aspirations in the direct elimination phases at risk.

Furthermore, he points out that the rectification is unusual in the history of the world cupssince FIFA does not usually allow this type of review of disciplinary sanctions imposed on the field of play, except in exceptional circumstances.

The last precedent dates back to the Garrincha’s expulsion in the semifinals of the 1962 World Cup in Chile. The Brazilian Football Confederation and the Brazilian Government argued that the player had reacted violently after receiving constant fouls. Finally, FIFA authorized their participation in the final against Czechoslovakia, in which Brazil won 3-1 and won the Jules Rimet trophy for the second consecutive time.

“If Folarin Balogun commits another offense of similar nature and severity during the probationary period, suspension will be revoked and the sanction will be applied, without prejudice to any other disciplinary measure that may apply for the new offense,” FIFA added.

Belgium reaction

The Belgian Football Federation received the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Commission with astonishment.

“To safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both in this FIFA World Cup and in future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is studying all possible options“, he indicated in a statement published on his official website.

However, he recalled that article 66.4 of the same Disciplinary Code establishes that the Expulsion “automatically implies a suspension for the team’s next game.”

He added that “the decision directly contradicts the provisions of the World Cup Regulations of FIFA 2026, as established in article 10.5.”

For his part, the Belgium coach, Rudi García, responded that “I didn’t know that July 5 had become April Fool’s Day”.

“It’s not that we are defending our team or our federation; we defend the integrity of football. “It is the first time in the history of the World Cup that a decision of this nature has been made,” stated García.

For the Belgian goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, the decision doesn’t change anything for your selection.

“We want to win on the field of play against whoever we play.. And the rest is at the discretion of the Belgian Football Federation’s response,” he said at the press conference prior to the match at the Lumen stadium in Seattle.

“We will be eleven against eleven on the field of play, plus those who come in as substitutes. Balogun is not alone. We have to play and do our football,” he said.

US Soccer expressed its satisfaction with the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Commission. In turn, Pochettino clarified that he had no personal relationship with the process that left the suspension void..

“They already punished us enough against Bosnia and Herzegovina by having to play with ten men for 30 minutesin a completely unfair decision. It’s not just because he’s the United States coach; I have to defend my team. 99.9% of people agree that it was an unfair red card. Maybe today we were lucky,” said the United States coach, quoted by CNN.

Donald Trump also described FIFA’s decision as correct.

“Thanks to FIFA for doing the right thing and reverse a great injustice!” wrote the US president on his Truth Social network.

In November 2025, Cristiano Ronaldo faced a standard three-match suspension after receive a straight red card for a foul during a match against Ireland in the 2026 World Cup qualification.

After serving only one game of suspension, against Armenia, the Disciplinary Commission annulled the two remaining games. This decision allowed CR7 to participate in the opening matches of the group stage with Portugal.

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