Belgian foreign minister says Trump-FIFA call undermines ‘most basic rules’ of sports

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European officials are weighing in on President Trump’s call to the head of FIFA after the reversal of a one-game ban for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said the overturned red card suspension was unfair.

“This decision clearly raises many questions,” Prévot, a former soccer referee, said in a Monday statement, according to The New York Times. The U.S. men’s team plays Belgium in the round of 16 on Monday night.

“If a phone call really is what explains this incomprehensible decision, it would amount to undermining the most basic rules of soccer and sports,” he added.

Prévot’s concerns echo objections raised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and the Royal Belgian Football Association.

“Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition. Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not,” UEFA wrote in a statement Monday, denouncing FIFA’s decision to let Balogun play.

Belgium’s soccer federation said the decision violates Article 10.5 of FIFA’s competition regulations.

“The same rule is reiterated at every FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Coordination Meeting prior to each match and is included in all FIFA World Cup 2026 workshop presentations,” it said in a Monday statement.

“In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options,” the group added.

After sending a letter to FIFA officials on Monday, Belgium was granted permission to file an appeal to the ruling.

Information from Belgium and the U.S. team was submitted at 8 a.m. EDT; however, neither team has been informed about when a decision will be made.

Despite concerns from international counterparts, Trump and his administration officials have defended the leader’s call to FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding Balogun’s red card.

“He didn’t do anything wrong, and he’s our best player or one of our best players. He’s a very vital part — and he gave him a red card. I didn’t know what that meant. I didn’t think it meant much,” the president said in the Oval Office on Monday morning of Balogun’s foul.

“Then I started hearing that that means you can’t play in the next game, at least in the next game. I said, boy, that’s a big, you know, that happened to another player. It would have been unfair. But when they take your best player or just about, they have some great players, but they say you can’t play. That’s very unfair,” he added.

U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Bill White, meanwhile, said Trump asked for a review on the referee’s call leading to a one-year probationary period for Balogun.

“President Trump would never interfere with the inner workings of FIFA. President Trump thanked FIFA after the fact. It was very clear to most football fans worldwide that the red card was unnecessarily issued,” White wrote in a post on the social platform X.

“When you are having the world championship it’s very good to review important decisions so that the games are fair. The stakes are too high for a wrong decision,” he added.

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Belgian foreign minister Maxime Prévot

belgium

Donald Trump

FIFA World Cup

Gianni Infantino

team usa

Trump administration

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