Donald Trump has made an astonishing claim about Folarin Balogun's red card in the USA's World Cup win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, insisting it was not even a foul. The US President also confessed he did not know what a red card meant until he spoke to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino about the incident.
Trump's Controversial Intervention
Balogun was sent off during the USA's 2-0 victory in the last 32, but FIFA suspended his one-game ban for up to a year after Trump directly contacted Infantino. This decision has been widely criticized across the football world, with UEFA slamming FIFA and Jurgen Klopp stating that Trump and Infantino know nothing about football and should stay out of the sport.
Speaking to the press, Trump confirmed he spoke to Infantino and defended FIFA's decision to overturn the red card. He said: "I understand sports really well, and that wasn't a foul. It wasn't even an infraction. It was two guys running for the ball."
Trump's Admission on Red Card Rules
Trump added: "The referee was a little bit suspect if you check his past. Very suspect. He made a call that nobody could believe. He gave him a red card. I didn't know what that meant, and then I started hearing that means he can't play in the next game."
He argued: "When they take your best player and say you can't play, that's very unfair. How do you penalise someone for a game that hasn't been played yet? That's not fair. So I asked for a review by FIFA."
Belgian FA's Strong Response
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has strongly condemned FIFA's U-turn, calling the events "deeply concerning." In a statement, the RBFA said: "The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) is astonished by FIFA's decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play in the USA–Belgium match on Monday, 6 July at 5:00 p.m. (Seattle time)."
The statement continued: "To be clear, as of this moment, the RBFA has still not received any decision or any explanation from FIFA regarding this matter. It therefore has no alternative but to challenge the player's eligibility for the upcoming match."
The RBFA added: "Regardless of the sporting outcome of this match, the RBFA is deeply concerned by the course of events and will continue to fight in the coming hours, days and months in defence of the fundamental principles of ethics, fair competition, and the interests of football as a whole."
Fallout and Future Implications
The Belgian FA is investigating all potential options to challenge the decision, stating: "In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options."
Trump's intervention and FIFA's subsequent suspension of Balogun's ban have raised serious questions about the integrity of the sport's governing body, with many calling for transparency and adherence to fair play principles.
