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Trump Called FIFA to Lift US Player's Suspension
8D AGOUSU.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMPCULTURE

Trump Called FIFA to Lift US Player's Suspension

What's the gist?

President Trump personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to push for the reversal of striker Folarin Balogun's one-game red card suspension, and FIFA complied. Balogun is cleared to play for the U.S. against Belgium on July 6.

Context

Balogun received a straight red card in the U.S.'s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 2, with FIFA officials initially stating the suspension could not be appealed. Trump made multiple calls to Infantino starting that Wednesday, and by Sunday FIFA invoked Article 27 of its disciplinary code to reverse the ban. Having the U.S. be part of the North American hosts is set to make FIFA somewhere in the range of $11 billion from the tournament.

Positive takes

Standing Up for American Athletes. Supporters argue Trump used his platform to correct a genuine injustice — the red card was widely seen as unintentional and harsh, and even U.S. coach Pochettino called it "completely unfair." Getting it reversed was the right outcome for fair play.
Getting Results on the World Stage. Trump's intervention worked. Balogun, one of the team's top scorers with three World Cup goals, is now available for a must-win knockout game. Critics of the red card, including players, coaches, and analysts, largely agreed the punishment didn't fit the foul.
A Precedent Already Set. FIFA had previously used the same Article 27 rule to let Cristiano Ronaldo play despite a red card. Defenders of Trump's call argue he simply pushed FIFA to apply a rule it had already used before, making the decision legally consistent.

Negative takes

Undermining FIFA's Independence. Critics say a sitting president calling FIFA's chief to reverse a referee decision sets a dangerous precedent. FIFA had explicitly told teams the suspension could not be appealed — Trump's back-channel pressure appears to have changed the rules mid-tournament.
Fairness to Other Teams. Belgium and other nations are furious. The Belgian federation called the decision "astonishing" and said it contradicts FIFA's own competition rules requiring an automatic one-game ban. Many fans worldwide see the reversal as evidence that political connections can bend the rules of sport.
Mixing Politics and Sport. Many observers argue Trump had no business inserting himself into a sporting disciplinary matter. With serious domestic issues ongoing, critics question why the president's energy went toward lobbying for a soccer player's eligibility rather than pressing matters of governance.