“The View” co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin has voiced support for former President Donald Trump’s reported intervention with FIFA regarding U.S. soccer player Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension.
Trump confirmed he asked FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the call ahead of the United States' World Cup match against Belgium. Griffin, a former Trump White House communications aide, stated that she agreed with the alleged action because it benefited the U.S. team.
"The one Trump corruption I agree with is the red card if we are going to get into FIFA," Griffin said on the show. "If you’re going to call in a favor, do it so that you can get one of the greatest players back on. It should have been a yellow card, suspend him for a bit."
However, fellow co-host Sunny Hostin accused Trump of corruption, suggesting he personally lobbied FIFA to allow Balogun to play despite the red card.
"Which means you’re supposed to be suspended for the next game and Trump made a call to FIFA and said can he still play and FIFA said, ‘Sure, we’re going to abandon all of our rules for a World Cup and let them play,’" Hostin said.
Hostin, who had recently returned from a trip to Spain, remarked on hearing concerns from Europeans about corruption in the U.S.
"Europeans, because I was in Spain at the time, Europeans are saying things like I can’t believe America is so corrupt," Hostin stated. "I’m like have you met the Trump administration? Have you met where we are right now?"
Griffin highlighted that Balogun is eligible to play for the U.S. team through birthright citizenship.
"And that player, by the way, is eligible to be playing on the U.S. team because of birthright citizenship," Griffin noted. "Which is incredible and it’s great."
Guest co-host Michelle Buteau commented that she was not surprised by the controversy, attributing it to Trump’s general approach to rules.
"We can’t be surprised that he’s like, trying to break the rules, because the way you do one thing is the way you do everything and that’s what he does, he breaks the rules," Buteau said.
Trump had previously discussed the call during a White House event, stating he believed the red card decision against Balogun was incorrect.
"So yes, I asked for a review by FIFA," Trump said. "It was very unfair. It wasn’t a foul."
FIFA President Infantino confirmed he received a call from Trump, stating that FIFA's judicial bodies operate independently.
"FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent," Infantino said in a statement. "They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected."
Infantino added, "Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues."
He concluded by explaining that he informed Trump about the ongoing legal process and the independence of FIFA's decision-making bodies.
"During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold."