It has been revealed that Donald Trump enlisted the help of his entire team, including his lawyer, to get Folarin Balogun’s red card revoked during the World Cup. FIFA’s decision to impose a one-match suspension on the United States striker caused an uproar throughout the soccer world and was perhaps the most controversial moment of the tournament. Balogun was shown a red card for a foul in his team’s Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina and was not expected to play in the subsequent game against Belgium.
However, because President Trump pressured FIFA president Gianni Infantino behind the scenes, he was suspended for one year with a suspended sentence. Previously unknown details have since been revealed by talkSPORT, with the nature of President Trump’s intervention going far beyond what was initially reported. It is claimed that within 24 hours of Balogun’s drop-off, he had a phone call with Infantino and that a dedicated White House team was assembled to help Balogun achieve his goals.
World Cup task force chief Andrew Giuliani, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and hedge fund manager Scott Goodwin all worked with U.S. Soccer to file the lawsuit, according to the report.
Trump’s lawyers were also said to have been called in to argue that VAR’s excessive use of slow-motion and still images misrepresented the incident.
The report added that Trump was informed by multiple aides that referee Rafael Kraus was accused of issuing fraudulent cards in 2023 by Botafogo owner John Texter.
He went on to describe Klaus as “a bit suspicious”, despite the fact that FIFA and the Brazilian authorities denied any wrongdoing by Klaus.
FIFA referee chief Pierluigi Collina was quick to publicly defend Klaus, describing him as an “experienced and highly respected referee” and insisting the governing body maintains “full confidence in him as a reliable match official”.
During the lobbying process, Infantino is said to have personally assured Trump that he would consider reversing Balogun’s suspension.
According to reports, it has been made clear to FIFA’s legal and compliance department that reviewing red cards should be a top priority.
Mr Infantino’s closest allies are said to have dismissed the idea of political interference, insisting that the Balogun story is far more exaggerated in Europe than outside of it.
But the nature of President Trump’s intervention and subsequent decision to suspend the forward for one game has never been forgotten.
Infantino has already said he is not involved in shaping results, insisting that he cannot be involved in shaping results because FIFA’s judicial body operates independently.
Article 27 of the governing body’s Disciplinary Law states that the disciplinary committee “may decide to suspend, in whole or in part, the implementation of disciplinary measures.”
The ruling spread confusion and anger throughout the football world. UEFA issued a strongly worded statement accusing FIFA of threatening the integrity of the competition by setting a precedent for “proportional measures”.
Belgium also appealed the decision, but FIFA found the decision unacceptable, meaning Belgium retained the final say and President Trump’s goal had been achieved.
