Trump lobbied FIFA president to review Folarin Balogun’s suspension

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump called Gianni Infantino on July 1 to urge the FIFA president to review the controversial red card issued to star U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team forward Folarin Balogun, according to a source familiar with the conversation.

Balogun’s red card and suspension for the next U.S. World Cup match was later reversed on July 5.

The clearance of Balogun, the team’s top goal scorer and striker, gives the U.S. a major boost for its July 6 round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle. The red card ‒ issued to Balogun in the World Cup match against Bosnia-Herzegovina after his foot landed on an opponent’s ankle ‒ drew widespread criticism as too punitive.

Trump posted on Truth Social after the reversal thanking FIFA for “doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!”

Trump and Infantino have built a friendly relationship over the past year, with the president hosting the FIFA president multiple times at the White House and Infantino awarding Trump with FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize.

FIFA did not address Trump’s communication with Infantino in a statement on the highly unusual reversal and instead cited the federation’s disciplinary rules.

“In line with article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,” the FIFA statement read. “If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”

FIFA’s regulations state, “the judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.” The player is then subject to a probationary period in which that suspension is revoked.

FIFA did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment on the role the White House played in the decision.

Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.