US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he personally asked FIFA to review the one-match suspension given to USA forward Folarin Balogun during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Balogun received a straight red card in the Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina after a challenge on defender Tarik Muharemovic. Under normal rules, the dismissal meant he would miss the next match against Belgium.
However, FIFA later announced that the suspension would be placed on probation for one year. The decision made Balogun available for the Round of 16 clash.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he believed the red card was unfair. He described the incident as an accidental collision between two players rather than a serious foul. Trump also questioned the referee’s decision and said it was wrong to keep a key player out of the following match.
The President confirmed that he spoke with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and requested a review of the suspension. He praised Infantino for considering the matter and said he respected the final decision.
FIFA’s move has sparked strong debate. Critics have questioned the process, while supporters believe the review corrected an unfair decision.