Trump rips ‘a little bit suspect’ FIFA referee who gave Balogun a World Cup red card

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President Trump offered stark criticism from the White House on Monday of the World Cup referee who gave a red card to U.S. men’s soccer star Folarin Balogun, saying he was “a little bit suspect if you check his past.”

FIFA referee Raphael Claus, who gave Balogun the red card after a video review suggested by the video assistant referee, has previously been accused of match fixing.

“That wasn’t a foul. That wasn’t even an infraction. That was two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other,” Trump said from the White House.

“These were two great athletes who got tangled, and this referee who is a little bit suspect if you check his past,” he continued. “He made a call that nobody could believe.”

Trump argued that Balogun “didn’t do anything wrong,” referring to him as one of the U.S. men’s team’s best players.

Balogun received the red card after video showed him stepping on the ankle of a player for Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday. The incident appeared accidental and was not immediately deemed worthy of a red card on the field as both players involved in the incident writhed in pain.

One Fox announcer calling the game said at the time he thought Balogun was a little lucky not to get a yellow card for the play, which does not lead to a disqualification.

Balogun received a red card after the referee looked at the video review. The red card meant Balogun was tossed from the game, which the U.S. went on to win, and would normally have led to a one-game suspension for Monday’s game against Belgium.

Trump reached out to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, asking him to review the incident. On Sunday, it was announced that the red card was reversed.

The president detailed his call with Infantino on Monday, saying he only asked for FIFA to review the red card.

“It’s one thing to penalize somebody for the game, but how do you penalize them for a game that hasn’t even been played yet? It’s very unfair,” the president said.

Trump later said that if Belgium defeated the U.S. with Balogun playing, it would beat the best the U.S. had to offer. If they won with Balogun suspended, he said it would be seen as “rigged.”

FIFA’s decision to overturn the red card and the news of Trump’s call have sparked controversy in the global soccer community.

The Royal Belgian Football Association appealed the decision from FIFA, after it said Sunday it was “astonished” by the reversal of Balogun’s suspension.

A number of other soccer personalities and figures have also questioned the move.

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