Donald Trump has confirmed he asked FIFA to review the one‑match ban that had been handed to US striker Folarin Balogun after a straight red card in the World Cup round of 16.
The 25‑year‑old was set to miss the last‑16 tie against Belgium after being sent off for a tackle on Bosnia‑Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic. FIFA’s disciplinary committee decided to suspend the automatic ban for a probationary period of one year, a move that was widely criticised by Belgium, England coach Thomas Tuchel and UEFA.
With the ban lifted, Balogun is expected to start in the Seattle match at 17:00 local time. The decision was praised by US fans but has raised questions about referee credibility, especially with the use of VAR.
Trump slammed the referee, Brazilian Raphael Claus, calling the decision “horrible” and “a little bit suspect”. He said he had spoken directly with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, but clarified that he only requested a review and did not instruct Swiss officials to suspend the ban.
FIFA reiterated that the disciplinary decisions are made by its independent judicial bodies and that any appeal from Belgium was ruled inadmissible because the Belgian association was not a party to the original case.
The incident underscores the tension between national governments and international football governance, with Uefa warning that such a pre‑emptive intervention could set a dangerous precedent. Balogun’s case is the latest example of how player conduct can be heavily scrutinised under the new automatic ban rules at the 2026 World Cup.
