Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has publicly questioned the integrity of the soccer organization after a red card suspension for U.S. player Folarin Balogun was reportedly reversed following a call from then-President Donald Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The suspension was lifted just before the U.S. squad's match against Belgium.

Balogun received a red card during a U.S. victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina for stepping on an opponent's ankle, an infraction confirmed by VAR. Amid the ensuing controversy, a source indicated that Trump contacted Infantino to request a review of the play. FIFA announced the reversal of the suspension on Sunday.

Blatter, who himself has faced FIFA bans due to a corruption investigation and remains suspended from organizational activities until 2027, expressed his reservations on social media. "Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls," Blatter wrote. "They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies. If a U.S. President intervenes with the FIFA President — and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match — the question is unavoidable: Quo vadis, FIFA? Football must never become a playground for political power."

According to OutKick founder and Fox News contributor Clay Travis, Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik, and White House task force leader Andrew Giuliani assembled a legal team to challenge the use of slow-motion replay in the red card decision. The extent to which this effort influenced FIFA's decision remains unclear.

Reports indicate that Belgium was granted the right to appeal the decision and sought a detailed explanation from FIFA. The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) stated it was "astonished" by the reversal, and Belgian coach Rudi Garcia used a translator to express his disbelief, comparing the timing to April Fools' Day. "The Belgian federation does not defend itself, it does not protect the national team. She defends football in general, she defends her integrity, her ethics. I think it’s the first time in the history of the World Cup that there is this kind of decision," Garcia commented.

UEFA also issued a statement, suggesting that FIFA's action "crossed a red line."