Trump says he spurred FIFA review into Balogun red card

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President Trump said on Monday his call to FIFA President Gianni Infantino spurred the soccer organization’s review into U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s red card, which led to the overturning of the decision.

“When they take your best player, or just about, they have some great players, and they say you can’t play, that’s very unfair. It’s one thing to penalize somebody for the game, but how do you penalize them for a game that hasn’t been played yet? You can’t do that. That’s unfair. So yes, I asked for a review by FIFA,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

However, Trump noted that he did not force FIFA’s hand in the decision.

“All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say ‘you have to do this,'” the president said, referring to Infantino as a “smart, tough man.”

Balogun received the red card after a video review showed him stepping on the ankle of a player for Bosnia and 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.

“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,” Trump said Monday.

Trump later said that if Belgium defeats the U.S. with Balogun playing on Monday night, it will have defeated the best the U.S. men’s team had to offer. If they managed to win 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.

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Gianni Infantino

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