Former President Donald Trump asserted on Monday that he was responsible for FIFA reviewing a red card issued to U.S. star forward Folarin Balogun during the World Cup, though he maintained he did not dictate the final decision.
"All I did was ask for a review," Trump said during an event in the Oval Office when questioned about the incident. "I didn’t say, ‘You have to do this.’"
Trump confirmed he contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a second look at the penalty against Balogun, which occurred during the United States' 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina. He stated that FIFA ultimately decided to suspend Balogun's mandatory one-game ban for a foul, allowing him to participate in the U.S. team's match against Belgium. The U.S. team was eliminated from the tournament by Belgium, losing 4-1.
Trump described the referee's initial red card decision as "horrible." He expressed concern that Balogun, who was the U.S. team's leading scorer with three goals in the tournament, being absent from the match against Belgium would have unfairly impacted the game's outcome. He praised FIFA for overturning the suspension.
"I didn’t think it was a foul," Trump said. "I thought it was two great athletes that crashed into each other and got entangled."
The former president also questioned the use of video review in issuing the red card, suggesting that slow-motion replays can exaggerate the perceived aggression of fouls.
During his remarks, Trump also took aim at the referee, Raphael Claus, describing him as "a little bit suspect if you check his past." However, Claus has been recognized as one of Brazil's top referees and has officiated significant matches, including the final of the 2024 Copa America. The Brazilian soccer federation defended Claus, stating his record demonstrates integrity and professional expertise, and that there is nothing to cast doubt on his honesty.
FIFA's decision to suspend the ban drew criticism from some international sports officials, who viewed it as an inappropriate intervention. The Belgian soccer federation challenged Balogun's eligibility for the match, and UEFA, the European soccer governing body, called FIFA's action "incomprehensible and unjustifiable."
U.S. officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and White House FIFA Task Force leader Andrew Giuliani, reportedly believed the process of issuing the red card was flawed due to the use of slow-motion replay. Discussions among U.S. officials reportedly focused on whether the red card should be nullified based on this perceived improper review process.
Following Trump's comments, Infantino issued a statement clarifying his conversation with the former president. He explained that he informed Trump about the ongoing legal process within FIFA's independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided by the competent authorities, emphasizing FIFA's adherence to its established procedures.
Senator Ted Cruz, who was present at the White House event, commended Trump for his intervention, stating, "On behalf of all Americans, thank you for getting rid of that ridiculous red card."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also commented on the decision, calling it the correct one. He questioned the integrity of a win if a team's leading scorer was absent due to a controversial call.