Former President Donald Trump's recent intervention to help overturn a red-card suspension for U.S. Men's National Team player Folarin Balogun has drawn criticism due to the perceived irony of his actions. Critics have pointed out that Balogun is eligible to play for the U.S. because he is a birthright citizen, a legal principle that Trump has previously sought to challenge.
Balogun, a player for Monaco in France's Ligue 1, received a red card during the United States' round of 32 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, resulting in an automatic one-match suspension. Following widespread debate among fans and pundits who deemed the card unjust, Trump reportedly contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of the decision. FIFA announced on Sunday that the suspension had been overturned.
Trump expressed his approval on his Truth Social platform, stating, "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!" However, the move has been met with scrutiny. Commentators have noted the contradiction in Trump advocating for an athlete whose status is based on birthright citizenship, a concept he has historically opposed and attempted to curtail through policy and legal challenges. The U.S. Supreme Court has previously struck down efforts to end birthright citizenship.
While Balogun's return to the team for their round of 16 match against Belgium was welcomed by many supporters, critics suggested that Trump's intervention, coupled with the underlying principles at play, has cast a shadow over the team's performance and the nature of the sport's administration.