Washington — President Trump recently intervened in the FIFA World Cup controversy involving U.S. Men’s National Team player Folarin Balogun. During a match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Balogun received a red card for reportedly stepping on Tarik Muharemović’s ankle, resulting in his suspension from the next game. President Trump witnessed the play and contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino, requesting a review of the decision.

“I’m a person that loves sports and was a good athlete,” Trump stated. “And I understand sports really well. Really well. 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. You can’t take your foot and properly place it on somebody else’s foot when you’re going.”

The red card was initially upheld by FIFA but later overturned after a review. Despite the reversal, the decision has attracted criticism and an ongoing appeal. President Trump maintained that Balogun’s actions did not warrant a foul or infraction, emphasizing his familiarity with sports dynamics.

Balogun was filmed during the incident fouling Tarik Muharemović, which was reviewed by VAR and resulted in the red card. Michael Steele from Getty Images captured the scene during the match on July 01, 2026, in Santa Clara, California.

President Trump expressed skepticism about the referee’s previous decisions, implying potential bias but refraining from creating controversy. He noted people on both sides of the match perceived the call as fortunate, stating Balogun was innocent of any wrongdoing.

“I started hearing that that means you can’t play in the next game — at least in the next game,” President Trump complained, deeming the situation ‘very unfair’ as it affected future gameplay.

President Trump reiterated his request for a FIFA review, emphasizing that it was not an attempt to influence the final decision. Infantino acknowledged the communication with Trump, stating that such interactions were standard practices for heads of state, government officials, and stakeholders worldwide.

Infantino clarified, “FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent,” outlining the ongoing legal process within FIFA’s system that ensures decisions are made by competent judicial entities.