Chapter International Football Federation FIFA Gianni Infantino has rejected accusations that the decision to temporarily lift the suspension of US national team striker Folarin Balogun was made under the influence of US President Donald Trump. Earlier, the media reported that the effect of the red card previously received by the football player in the match with Bosnia and Herzegovinawas suspended after a telephone conversation between Infantino and Trump, who have a friendly relationship.
Following the match with Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 2, the USA reached the 1/8 finals, but due to a red card they lost their top scorer Balogun, who scored three goals in the tournament, RTVI previously reported. He was sent off in the second half for hitting a Bosnian defender's leg from behind. A red card automatically disqualifies a player for the next match.
Hours after the game, Trump contacted Infantino and personally asked him to reconsider the suspension, The New York Times reported. FIFA later announced that Balogun would be able to continue in the tournament. This is the first time since 1962 that FIFA has lifted disciplinary sanctions after a player was sent off.
On Monday, Trump confirmed the conversation with Infantino, but at the same time assured that he was not trying to put pressure on FIFA management.
“I just asked to review the episode. I did not say: you are obliged to make this or that decision. Gianni Infantino is a smart and tough leader. He's great at his job and his credibility has grown significantly because of what he's done. I believe that all the best players should take the field,” Trump said.
According to the US President, the decision to disqualify, made after reviewing the video replay (VAR), was erroneous, since no violation occurred. “Two athletes collided and became entangled,” Trump explained.
“It was not a violation. It wasn't even a misdemeanor at all. This arbitrator, who looks a little suspicious if you look at his background, made a decision that no one could understand,” the US President said.
In response to the criticism, Infantino said on X (formerly Twitter) that he did discuss the situation with Trump, but noted that the work of the FIFA judiciary was not affected: they act independently and make decisions based on the current rules and the specific circumstances of each case.
“During our conversation [с Трампом] I explained that the matter was undergoing legal proceedings within the independent judicial bodies of FIFA and that a decision would be made by the competent authorities in due course. This is how the FIFA system works, and this is a principle I will always defend,” Infantino said.
Belgium attempted to challenge the decision, but the appeal committee rejected the request. FIFA explained that the country's national football federation “is not a party to the proceedings and therefore does not have a procedural right to appeal.”
The situation caused a sharp reaction from the Union of European Football Associations UEFA. The organization said the incident was “crossing a red line.” In turn, journalist Romain Molina, collaborating with The Guardian, reported that a number of members of the UEFA executive committee are already conducting informal consultations on nominating an alternative candidate against Infantino in the FIFA presidential elections in 2027.
Team USA will play Belgium in the round of 16 on July 6. The meeting will take place in Seattle, USA.
