United States President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he personally requested FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the controversial red card issued to American striker Folarin Balogun.
The disclosure, reported by The Guardian, comes after FIFA rescinded the automatic one-match ban on Sunday, despite earlier assertions that disciplinary dismissals could not be appealed.
“All I did was ask for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul,” Trump said from the Oval Office.
The president clarified his boundaries regarding the soccer federation during a conversation with reporters.
“I didn’t tell him what to do. I can’t tell him what to do,” Trump said.
The incident occurred during a 2-0 victory for the United States over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32, where Balogun scored the opening goal before his dismissal.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Trump said.
Trump highlighted his personal background and understanding of athletic movements to defend the American striker.
“So I saw the play, and I’m a person that loves sports and was a good athlete. I understand sports really well.
Really well,” Trump said.
The president detailed the physical dynamics of the collision between the two players on the field.
“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 full speed.
These were two great athletes that got tangled up,” Trump said.
Trump also questioned the officiating of Brazilian referee Raphael Claus, labeling the decision unbelievable and suggesting journalists investigate the referee's career record.
“It’s one thing to penalize somebody for the game,” Trump said.
The president expressed his dissatisfaction with the broader impacts of tournament suspension rules on subsequent matches.
“But how do you penalize them for a game that hasn’t been played yet? It’s very unfair,” Trump said.
Trump argued that missing the 25-year-old top scorer would lessen the quality of the competition before expressing satisfaction with the final administrative outcome.
“We’ve got to have our best players and they have to have their best,” Trump said.
He emphasized his desire for a fair competitive environment regardless of the final scoreline.
“If we win or we lose, it’s fair,” Trump said.
Trump noted that he spoke with Infantino following Sunday's match between Mexico and England, comparing the scale of the World Cup games to the Super Bowl.
“I don’t believe he made the decision,” Trump said.
The US president explained his perspective on the internal mechanics behind the governing body's disciplinary reversal.
“I think it was a committee that made the decision, and they made the right decision because, number one, it wasn’t a foul,” Trump said.
He shifted focus to specific international players, praising England captain Harry Kane following golf outings together.
“Each one is turning out to be a Super Bowl,” Trump said.
The conversation took place during an official White House event introducing a new national children's savings program.
“I don’t know the players, although I think Kane is a great player,” Trump said.
Trump concluded his remarks on the English forward by complimenting both his soccer and golfing abilities.
“I played golf with him and I like him a lot. He’s a good golfer.
But he’s really great,” Trump said.
During the same Oval Office event, Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz commended the administration for its involvement in the sports dispute.
“On behalf of all Americans, thank you for getting rid of that ridiculous red card,” Cruz said.
The US president offered a brief response to the senator's public expression of gratitude.
“That was interesting,” Trump said.
Cruz connected the soccer victory to the presence of the tournament trophy at the executive mansion.
“It was spectacular,” Cruz said.
The Texas politician concluded his exchange by emphasizing the symbolic importance of the sports emblem.
“There was a reason the Fifa trophy sat here for as long as it did,” Cruz said.
The United States national team faces Belgium on Monday night in Seattle for a spot in the tournament quarterfinals.
