Donald Trump's Diplomatic Foul Play? FIFA Mysteriously Lifts Folarin Balogun's Red Card

Trump Inserts Himself Into World Cup Drama

Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump has sparked international outrage after reports confirmed he intervened in the World Cup.It began after Team USA superstar Folarin Balogun was handed a red card in the second half of the July 1 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina after clashing with an opposing player’s foot. As a result, he was ejected from the game and given a one-game suspension. At the time, FIFA said that the referee’s call was final and could not be overturned or appealed. “I think the choice of the referee was, of course, his choice, but I don’t think it was the correct call. I think a yellow card would have been fair, just due to it not being intentional,” Balogun told reporters on Friday.Read more at The Daily Beast.

U.S. soccer cannot appeal Folarin Balogun’s World Cup red card suspension

SANTA CLARA — The U.S. cannot appeal Folarin Balogun’s red card and ensuing suspension from the Americans’ round of 16 match against Belgium, U.S. soccer officials confirmed. FIFA rules governing the 2026 World Cup, first cited by The Athletic, state that “a sending-off automatically incurs suspension from the subsequent match. The FIFA judicial bodies may impose additional []

Belgium submits appeal on FIFA red card suspension for Folarin Balogun

The Royal Belgian Football Association on Monday submitted an appeal to FIFA regarding a ruling that overturned a one-game ban for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun. The move came after President Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino, urging him to review the red card given to Balogun. The World Cup governing body ultimately suspended Balogun’s red...

Trump admits to asking FIFA president for review of controversial red card against Balogun

President Donald Trump said Monday that he personally reached out to FIFA after U.S. striker Folarin Balogun was shown a red card that initially would have sidelined him for the Americans’ Round of 16 match, arguing Wednesday’s play against Bosnia and Herzegovina never warranted an ejection. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he []

World Cup 2026: France v Morocco quarter-final buildup, Collina defends refereeing – live

All the latest as we look ahead to the quarter-finals Player guide | Bracketology| Golden Boot | Email usAndrew Giuliani, head of the White House’s World Cup taskforce, has defended Donald Trump’s lobbying of Fifa to lift the suspension of US player Folarin Balogun for Monday’s game against Belgium.The US president claimed that Brazilian referee Raphael Claus, who showed Balogun a red card in the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, was “a little bit suspect, if you check his past”. This was apparently a reference to a match-fixing investigation by Brazil’s senate in 2024 that examined how referees were assigned to games but did not accuse Claus of wrongdoing. Continue reading...

FIFA bows to Trump's demands and drops suspension of US player

FIFA has bowed to US President Donald Trump by reversing the controversial red-card ban for star player Folarin Balogun. US national team striker Folarin Balogun received a one-game ban during the round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina after awkwardly stepping on one of their players’ ankles. Balogun was set to miss the round of 16 match this week, and the decision was originally not subject to appeal or review. Trump stepped in by calling FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the week to get a review to retract the red-card suspension. The President’s call worked, marking a major win for Team USA as the red card ban was overturned.

FIFA rejects Belgium’s appeal over Folarin Balogun red card at World Cup

FIFA has swiftly rejected an appeal from Belgium’s soccer federation (RFBA) over Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension, saying that the federation was “not a party to the proceedings.” There has been a growing firestorm over FIFA’s last-minute decision to allow U.S. forward Balogun to play in Monday’s World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium, []...Click to read more

FIFA World Cup 2026: Trump thanks FIFA after Balogun cleared to play for US in RO16 clash against Belgium

Washington DC [US], July 6 (ANI): US President Donald Trump welcomed FIFA's decision to make striker Folarin Balogun available for the co-hosts' FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash against Belgium, thanking world football's governing body after the suspension was lifted.Reacting shortly after FIFA confirmed its decision, Trump wrote on Truth Social, 'Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a

FIFA Gives Trump Exactly What He Wants

Reversing a red card against U.S. soccer star Folarin Balogun isn’t FIFA’s only unusual concession to Trump. The post FIFA Gives Trump Exactly What He Wants appeared first on The Intercept.

Why FIFA’s Balogun red card suspension after Trump call is so controversial

FIFA's unprecedented decision sparked huge furore in football world.

Marco Rubio Calls On FIFA To Appeal Red Card Shown To Folarin Balogun

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has formally demanded that FIFA pursue an appeal following the controversial red card shown to U.S. men’s national team forward Folarin Balogun. The dismissal has drawn significant attention and sparked debate among soccer fans, officials, and commentators across the country. Balogun, who has been a key attacking figure for the [] The post Marco Rubio Calls On FIFA To Appeal Red Card Shown To Folarin Balogun appeared first on Foreign Policy Journal.

‘Overturn this’: victorious Belgium throw barb after Balogun red-card controversy

For Belgium, Monday’s 4-1 victory over the United States was doubly sweet. The buildup to the match had been tinged with controversy after Fifa had suspended the red card US striker Folarin Balogun was given in the last 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina. When it emerged that Donald Trump had lobbied for Balogun’s red card to be overturned, Belgium – and other nations – were outraged: Uefa called the decision “incomprehensible and unjustifiable”.

From Mussolini to Trump: Four times politics hit the World Cup

US President Donald Trump's phone call to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to have the red card for the co-hosts star striker Folarin Balogun reviewed is the latest instance of political interference in the World Cup. The post From Mussolini to Trump: Four times politics hit the World Cup appeared first on Vanguard News.

Integrity of World Cup is questioned as Trump, Fifa defend Balogun suspension actions

With the integrity of Fifa and the World Cup under attack from European football leaders, Fifa President Gianni Infantino acknowledged taking a call from US President Donald Trump before US forward Folarin Balogun was cleared to play against Belgium later on Monday. Balogun was issued a red card in the US match against Bosnia-Herzegovina last week, resulting in a suspension for the Belgium contest. Trump called Infantino after the match with Bosnia to plead his case to overturn the call and Fifa...

FIFA Scandal: Former referees question different fates of Balogun, Quansah

NEW YORK: FIFA’s handling ‌of two World Cup red-card cases came under renewed scrutiny on Thursday after England defender Jarell Quansah got a two-match suspension while US striker Folarin Balogun avoided an immediate ban for a similar ​challenge. That has left former international referees unable to reconcile the two decisions. Quansah was sent off in England’s last-16 victory over Mexico after a video review deemed his sliding studs-up challenge serious foul play. He was later handed a two-match ban that England’s Football Association said it could not appeal.

Can The USA Appeal Folarin Balogun's World Cup Red Card?

Can the USA appeal the red card given to Folarin Balogun? Our World Cup rules expert explains.

FIFA Delays Folarin Balogun’s One-Match Ban; Trump Says He Asked FIFA to Review, Not Change Its Decision

The Belgian soccer federation challenged the delay of a U.S. soccer player’s red card suspension, but was unsuccessful. FIFA’s decision will allow the American forward to play in Monday night’s game against Belgium. President Donald Trump said he asked FIFA’s president to review the red card. Trump welcomed Wall Street leaders to the White House for []

Belgium's soccer federation 'astonished' that FIFA allows USMNT's Folarin Balogun to play after red card

Balogun's one-game ban was suspended by FIFA on Sunday afternoon.

FIFA lifts Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension at World Cup

The Belgian soccer federation wants an explanation from FIFA about a decision to let U.S forward Folarin Balogun play at the World Cup despite getting a red card in his previous game. Belgium takes on the United States later Monday for a spot in the quarterfinals. #FolarinBalogun #FIFA #WorldCup #USA #Belgium

Mondial 2026 : après la levée de la suspension de Balogun, Trump revendique son intervention, l’UEFA s’insurge

La décision de la FIFA de suspendre l’application de la suspension automatique d’un match infligée à Folarin Balogun continue de provoquer de vives réactions. Au cœur de la polémique se trouve le carton rouge reçu par l’attaquant lors du match contre la Bosnie-Herzégovine, dans lequel les États-Unis ont gagné 2-0 en seizièmes de finale. L’incident []

Referee’s past is suspect – Trump on why he asked FIFA to suspend Balogun’s red card

United States president, Donald Trump, has claimed that referee Raphael Claus’ past is “suspect”. Claus is the referee who showed a red card to American striker, Folarin Balogun, during a last-32 clash against Bosnia at the 2026 World Cup. FIFA on Sunday overturned the one-game ban that came with the sending off. This means Balogun [] Referee’s past is suspect – Trump on why he asked FIFA to suspend Balogun’s red card

[Photo] JUST IN: 🇧🇪🇺🇸 FIFA denies Belgium's appeal, clearing Folarin Balogun to play.

JUST IN: FIFA denies Belgium's appeal, clearing Folarin Balogun to play.@BRICSNews

FIFA reverses ban against U.S. men’s soccer star

FIFA reversed a ban against Team USA’s star striker Folarin Balogun, who was set to sit out Monday’s game over a controversial red card. President Trump called FIFA’s president last week and asked him to review the red card according to a source familiar with the phone call. NBC News’ Dana Griffin reports.

Trump called FIFA head to seek review of US player red card – Source

U.S. President Donald Trump called FIFA ​President Gianni Infantino ‌earlier this week to ask the soccer governing body ​to review a ​red card issued to U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, ​according to a source ​briefed on the call. FIFA announced on Sunday that Balogun would ​be eligible to ​play for the U.S. in Monday’s ‌knockout game []

Trump’s red card call stirs political storm around World Cup

For 24 days, the World Cup seemed to achieve a rare feat in America in 2026: It had almost nothing to do with Donald Trump. But in an extraordinary twist following an appeal from the president, star US goal-scorer Folarin Balogun will play in the knockout clash with Belgium on Monday, despite being sent off The post Trump’s red card call stirs political storm around World Cup appeared first on Egypt Independent.

Belgian coach Rudi Garcia criticizes FIFA’s Balogun red card ban reversal: ‘It’s April Fools’

After FIFA announced that U.S. national team forward Folarin Balogun would play in the Round of 16 after his one-game red-card ban was suspended, their opponent did not take the news well. “The Belgian federation isn’t just defending itself or the national team; it’s defending football in general — its integrity and its ethics,” Belgium

FIFA face being FLOODED with appeals after Folarin Balogun red card scandal: France complain over Michael Olise's YELLOW, English FA consider raising Jarell Quansah's dismissal... and the five Three Lions stars on bookings!

FIFA face being FLOODED with appeals after Folarin Balogun red card scandal: France complain over Michael Olise's YELLOW, English FA consider raising Jarell Quansah's dismissal... and the five Three Lions stars on bookings!

The Reactions to FIFA Getting the Trump Card on Folarin Balogun's Red Card Are Amazing

The Reactions to FIFA Getting the Trump Card on Folarin Balogun's Red Card Are Amazing

FIFA suspends Balogan suspension

In addition to a general World Cup open thread, I assume people will want to discuss this: Folarin Balogun will be available to play the USMNT’s World Cup round-of-16 match against Belgium after his one-game red-card ban was suspended, FIFA has confirmed. The 25-year-old striker received a straight red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday [] The post FIFA suspends Balogan suspension appeared first on Lawyers, Guns Money.

FIFA Is So Shamelessly Corrupt, They’ll Change Their Own Rules at Trump’s Command

Whether or not Folarin Balogun should have gotten a red card in the first place, FIFA has demonstrated it will do anything to appease Trump.

White House called FIFA’s Infantino to review Team USA’s Folarin Balogun’s red card, AP source says

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House made a call to FIFA to ask Gianni Infantino to review Folarin Balogun’s red card, according to a person familiar with the call who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. The person did not have details to share about [] The post White House called FIFA’s Infantino to review Team USA’s Folarin Balogun’s red card, AP source says appeared first on CityNews Montreal.

Outrage Erupts as FIFA Clears Balogun Red Card Ban — But Is It Justified?

FIFA’s decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's automatic ban for his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina after Donald Trump's appeal has sparked protests from UEFA, Belgium, and the European Commission. Yet many point to Lionel Messi's similar, unpunished challenge as evidence of football's inconsistent disciplinary standards. The post Outrage Erupts as FIFA Clears Balogun Red Card Ban — But Is It Justified? appeared first on Hungarian Conservative.