Trump praises Fifa decision to spare Balogun from World Cup ban

Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ask for a review of Folarin Balogun’s sending-off, then praised FIFA’s decision to spare the U.S. forward from a World Cup ban, saying the governing body “made the right decision.” Trump said that if the punishment had stood, it would have left a “big stain” on the tournament.

Balogun, 25, was sent off after a VAR review in the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 on Wednesday, July 2, after he appeared to plant his boot into the ankle of Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemović. A red card normally triggers an automatic one-match ban, but FIFA instead suspended the implementation of that suspension for one year under Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code. The red card remains on record, and Balogun is eligible to face Belgium in the round of 16 in Seattle on Monday, July 6.

Trump urged Infantino to review the sending-off and later said he made the call because he did not think it was a foul.

European reaction was sharply hostile. UEFA called the decision “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable,” while Belgium’s Royal Belgian Football Association said it was astonished, had not received an explanation from FIFA, and challenged Balogun’s eligibility for the match. U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said it was never a red-card offense. England manager Thomas Tuchel also questioned the suspension of the punishment.

U.S. Soccer accepted FIFA’s ruling and focused on the Belgium game. Balogun had scored three goals at the tournament and was the United States’ leading scorer before the suspension was lifted.