FIFA, 2 ‘Presidents’ & A Friendship: How Trump Knocked Out Balogun’s Red Card Explained

Published 6 July 2026 · sports

FIFA, 2 ‘Presidents’ & A Friendship: How Trump Knocked Out Balogun’s Red Card Explained Written By, Last Updated: July 06, 2026, 14:28 IST Balogun Ban

FIFA, 2 ‘Presidents’ & A Friendship: How Trump Knocked Out Balogun’s Red Card Explained Written By, Last Updated: July 06, 2026, 14:28 IST Balogun Ban reversed as ties 'trump' rules: Amid the row, a look at the friendship between US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino Rapid Read FIFA President Gianni Infantino (left) and US President Donald Trump pose for a selfie. (REUTERS) FIFA has surprisingly suspended the automatic one-game World Cup ban for US striker Folarin Balogun after US President Donald Trump made a call to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. This unprecedented intervention has ignited a massive political and athletic firestorm across the global football community. News18 explains their ties. WHAT HAPPENED? During the United States’ 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32, Balogun was shown a straight red card after a VAR review for inadvertently stepping on the ankle of defender Tarik Muharemovic. Per standard tournament regulations, a straight red card carries an automatic one-match suspension that cannot be appealed, which would have barred the U.S. team’s top goalscorer from playing against Belgium in the Round of 16. Following the match, Trump made a direct phone call to Infantino to protest the decision and demand an official review.

FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee subsequently invoked Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. This allowed it to “suspend the implementation of the match suspension for a probationary period of one year." As a result, Balogun was cleared to play against Belgium. WHY THE BACKLASH? The decision marks the first time since 1962 that political pressure has successfully altered a player’s red-card suspension status during an ongoing World Cup. The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) expressed utter astonishment, calling the move a “direct contradiction" of fair play, and has launched an inquiry into potential legal options. European sports analysts and political watchdogs have heavily criticised Infantino for abandoning FIFA’s statutory mandate of strict political neutrality to appease his close friend in the White House. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN INFANTINO AND TRUMP While FIFA has traditionally maintained a strict policy of political neutrality, Infantino has aggressively courted Trump to secure logistical backing, maximise revenue, and expand football’s footprint in the United States. This relationship has drawn intense scrutiny from ethics committees, foreign governments, and football purists alike. In July 2025, FIFA officially opened a brand-new corporate office inside Trump Tower in New York City, making the global governing body of football a direct financial tenant of the sitting U.S. president.