Donald Trump called Fifa president Gianni Infantino to ask for US striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban to be reviewed – before the ban was controversially suspended.
Balogun was sent off during USA’s last-32 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, when he appeared to accidentally make contact with defender Tarik Muharemovic.
On Sunday, Fifa’s disciplinary committee announced that it was applying article 27 of the Fifa disciplinary code to suspend the red card, meaning Balogun will only serve his one-game ban if he commits another similar offence in the next 12 months.
Donald Trump hailed the news, writing on his Truth Social platform: “Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” And the New York Times reports that the US president personally intervened to request the decision was reconsidered.
When The Independent contacted Fifa to ask about Trump’s involvement, a Fifa spokesperson pointed to its disciplinary code, which allows for sanctions to be suspended at the discretion of the judicial body.
Belgium’s FA said it was “astonished” and would be “investigating all potential options” in response.
Balogun scored his third goal of the World Cup in the 2-0 win over Bosnia but was shown a red card in the second half for planting his boot into the ankle of Tarik Muharemovic, leaving the US to navigate the remainder of the game a man down. The 25-year-old was sent off after a VAR review, with US coach Mauricio Pochettino saying it was never a sending-off, but Fifa is allowing him to play – without rescinding the red card.
“In line with article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,” Fifa said in a statement.
“If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”
The judicial body has the discretion to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary sanction.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, while the White House celebrated Balogun’s reinstatement in the squad with a post on X saying: “USA-USA-USA.”
The Associated Press reported that Trump had called Infantino after the game to ask for a review of the card.
The pair have built up a personal relationship over the past year, with the Swiss-born Fifa head showering the US president with gifts, including the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize – seen by critics as a sop after Trump failed to win the Nobel Peace Prize with which he had become publicly besotted – and $15,000 in tickets.
Trump, who is yet to attend any matches at the tournament, will present the winning trophy at the final on July 19.
US Soccer accepted the decision on Balogun. “(We) are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow,” it said in a statement ahead of Monday’s game in Seattle.
Pochettino said: “My reaction is like everyone. I love the sport and trust the ethical integrity of it. We celebrate the decision.”
Balogun’s teammates said they only found out via social media on their way to training.
“We found out about it just coming over here,” American forward Christian Pulisic told reporters. “At first, you’re like, ‘Oh really, is this real?’ And then ‘Oh, this is great news’.”
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it was “astonished” by Fifa’s decision to declare Balogun eligible to play in the match, pointing to the rule book while it investigated all potential options.
“FIFA bases its decision on Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. This provision states that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may decide to suspend the enforcement of a previously imposed disciplinary sanction,” the RBFA said. “However, Article 66.4 of the same FIFA Disciplinary Code clearly provides that a red card (sending-off) automatically results in a suspension for the team's next match, as has been the case for all previous red cards issued during this FIFA World Cup.”
It said the decision was in direct contradiction with the provisions of the tournament’s regulations.
“As set out in Article 10.5: ‘If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card (second caution), they will automatically be suspended from their team's subsequent match’,” the RBFA added.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo was able to play his side’s opening World Cup matches after Fifa suspended the final two games of a three-match ban last year when he was sent off in their penultimate qualifying match against Ireland. Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo was handed a five-match ban after receiving a red card for a tackle that seriously injured Canada midfielder Ismael Kone during a group match at the tournament.
At the 1962 World Cup, hosted by Chile, Brazil great Garrincha was sent off in the semi-final but he was cleared to play the final after a successful appeal backed – in a parallel with Balogun’s suspension – by a direct intervention from Chile president Jorge Alessandri. It was later reported that the officials had received a $10,000 bribe not to give evidence at the disciplinary hearing. Garrincha returned to help his side beat Czechoslovakia 3-1 and win the World Cup.
Balogun, incidentally, would not be allowed to represent the US under new laws proposed by Trump’s administration. The striker was born to Nigerian parents, living in London, who were on holiday in New York when airline attendants refused to allow his mother on the flight home after they noticed she was seven months pregnant. His parents were forced to stay in New York and he was born in Brooklyn on 3 July.
Balogun was automatically granted US citizenship under the country’s birthright citizenship laws, based on the 14th amendment to the US Constitution, laws that the Trump administration is attempting to rewrite.
