Donald Trump has confirmed he asked Fifa president Gianni Infantino to review the red card shown to United States striker Folarin Balogun, after football\u2019s governing body suspended the player\u2019s automatic one-match ban before the World Cup last-16 tie against Belgium.<\/p>\n
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The decision has triggered a dispute over political influence, disciplinary rules and the independence of Fifa\u2019s judicial bodies.<\/p>\n
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Balogun was sent off during the USA\u2019s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina after a challenge on defender Tarik Muharemovic. A straight red card at the World Cup carries an automatic one-match suspension. That would have ruled the 25-year-old striker out of the Belgium match in Seattle.<\/p>\n
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Fifa announced on Sunday that the ban would be suspended for 12 months under Article 27 of its disciplinary code. The article allows a disciplinary body to suspend all or part of a sanction. Fifa gave no detailed explanation for why it applied the rule in this case.<\/p>\n
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Donald Trump said at the White House on Monday that he had spoken to Gianni Infantino and asked for the case to be reviewed.<\/p>\n
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\u201cAll I did was ask for a review because I didn\u2019t think it was a foul,\u201d Trump told reporters. \u201cI didn\u2019t tell him what to do. I can\u2019t tell him what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Trump said Fifa had \u201cmade the right decision\u201d and said Balogun\u2019s suspension would have left a \u201cbig stain\u201d on the tournament. He also described referee Raphael Claus as \u201ca little bit suspect\u201d and called the red-card decision \u201chorrible\u201d.<\/p>\n
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The Brazilian Football Confederation defended Claus after Trump\u2019s remarks. It said: \u201cThere is nothing in his record that discredits him or gives grounds for any suspicion. He is an exemplary professional.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The Guardian<\/a> reported that sources said Trump made three calls to Fifa from Wednesday as he sought a reversal of the suspension.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Infantino confirmed that Trump had contacted him, but said he told the US president that Fifa\u2019s independent judicial bodies were handling the case.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n \u201cFifa\u2019s judicial bodies are independent,\u201d Infantino said in a statement. \u201cThey operate autonomously, apply the Fifa disciplinary code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n He added that disciplinary rulings \u201cmust always be respected\u201d.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was \u201castonished\u201d by the ruling and challenged the decision. Fifa rejected the Belgian appeal, saying Belgium had no standing because it was not a party to the original disciplinary proceedings.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Belgium coach Rudi Garcia compared the episode to an April Fools\u2019 Day joke, according to the Telegraph<\/a>. \u201cWe defend football, its ethics and its history,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cThis is the first time in World Cup history that such a decision has been made.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Uefa also criticised Fifa\u2019s handling of the case. The European governing body said football depends on clear rules and said the decision had placed \u201cthe integrity of the game\u201d at stake.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n \u201cWhen the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined,\u201d Uefa said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n The German Football Association said Fifa must remove the impression of political interference. Norwegian Football Association president Lisa Klaveness said the issue went beyond one match and concerned fair play across football.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter also criticised the process. \u201cRed cards are not overturned by political phone calls,\u201d he wrote on X<\/a>. \u201cThey are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Balogun\u2019s availability strengthens the USA before the knockout match. He has scored three goals in the tournament and leads the team\u2019s scoring chart.<\/p>\n
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