Trump says he asked FIFA to review Balogun’s one-match ban, clearing him to face Belgium

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he asked FIFA to review the decision that would have suspended American striker Folarin Balogun for a one-match World Cup ban, saying the federation had “made the right decision” to lift the punishment. Speaking at the White House, Trump said he did not believe Balogun’s incident “was a foul,” and he described the outcome as avoiding what he called a “big stain” on the tournament.

Trump said he spoke to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and that his involvement was limited to requesting a review, adding that he did not tell the FIFA chief that Balogun “had to” receive a suspension. Trump framed the episode as a case involving two players “who crashed into each other and got entangled,” and he said FIFA should have acted differently if it believed its own decision was correct.

FIFA’s reversal removed the automatic one-game suspension associated with Balogun’s sending-off. Under the governing body’s disciplinary rules, a straight red card typically triggers an automatic ban, and the original outcome would have kept Balogun out of the United States’ last-16 tie against Belgium in Seattle on Tuesday.

The clarification that Balogun was again eligible came after FIFA announced that it had suspended the automatic one-game ban for 12 months. The practical effect, as reported in the lead-up to the match, was that the 25-year-old forward could be selected for the Belgium fixture rather than serving a World Cup match ban.

European football authorities quickly challenged FIFA’s approach. UEFA, according to separate reporting, said FIFA “crossed a red line” with what it characterized as an unprecedented disciplinary reversal, and indicated that Belgium would seek to contest Balogun’s eligibility.

The controversy has also focused on the integrity of match-related disciplinary processes. BBC reporting on the episode noted that UEFA had raised concerns about the implications for sporting integrity, while other outlets described FIFA’s disciplinary move as unusual within the framework of its standard red-card rules.

FIFA’s decision now leaves the immediate question centered on whether any formal appeal or eligibility challenge can affect the lineup for the Tuesday match, and on how the sports governing bodies reconcile presidential-level political interest with the disciplinary authority that is supposed to operate independently. For the United States, the next step is straightforward, Balogun’s availability changes rotation and game planning after a brief period in which he was reported to be unavailable.