Donald Trump admits lobbying Gianni Infantino over Folarin Balogun red card

Donald Trump has confirmed he personally asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to “review” United States striker Folarin Balogun’s World Cup red card.

The world governing body announced on Sunday that the automatic one-match ban for Balogun’s dismissal against Bosnia and Herzegovina had been suspended, with the Americans’ last-16 opponents, Belgium, appealing – unsuccessfully – against the decision.

President Trump has now stated he asked for the dismissal to be looked at, and said he would have felt Monday night’s match against Belgium would have been “rigged” if Balogun had not been able to play.

FIFA has strict rules around political interference in the business of its national associations, with the Nepalese federation suspended just last month for third-party interference.

Infantino issued a statement on Monday evening saying the decision had been taken by its independent disciplinary committee, but earlier Trump revealed he had lobbied Infantino.

“I saw the play… that (challenge by Balogun) wasn’t a foul, that wasn’t even an infraction, that was two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other,” he said.

“These were two great athletes that got tangled up and this referee, who is a little bit suspect, if you check his past, he made a call that nobody could believe. He (Balogun) didn’t do anything wrong and he’s our best player, or one of our best players… and he (the referee) gave him a red card.

“It’s very unfair, you can’t do that. So, yes, I asked for a review by FIFA. I spoke to a man who’s highly respected (Infantino) and by the way, whose level of respect has gone up tenfold.”

The referee Trump was referring to was Brazil’s Raphael Claus, whose national association the CBF has been contacted for comment by the Press Association.

Trump added: “This game (against Belgium) would have a big mark on it if we lost (without Balogun).

“No matter what happened, you have to let (teams) use their best players, and the game (against Belgium) is going to be amazing. And we’re going to have a full team, and Belgium is going to have a full team. And you know what? If (Belgium) beat us, then they can be really proud.

“The other way (with Balogun banned) – if they beat us, we’ll say it was… I’d say it was rigged, just like the election was rigged in 2020, but I won’t get into that.”

The Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it had been kept in the dark by FIFA about the reasons behind the suspension of Balogun’s ban, but appealed against the decision.

However, the FIFA Appeal Committee said the RBFA’s case was “inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision”.

The RBFA said in a further statement on Monday evening that it “has informed the United States Soccer Federation that it contests the eligibility of the player, should the player be listed on the referee’s teamsheet”.

It added: “This leaves all further actions open.”

Trump insisted he did not “tell (Infantino) what to do” and said he thought “a committee” had made the decision, rather than Infantino himself.

Despite that, Republican Senator Ted Cruz credited Trump with “getting rid” of the “ridiculous” red card.

Infantino issued a statement on Monday evening insisting FIFA’s judicial bodies were independent.

“They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them,” he said.

“Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected.

“Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues.

“During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies.

“That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.

“I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree.

“What I always do, however, is respect those decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them.”

European football’s governing body UEFA issued an extraordinary statement on Monday morning, saying FIFA’s decision had “crossed a red line”.

UEFA expressed “disbelief” that the decision had been taken, which it described as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable”.

The statement from European football’s governing body added: “When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined.”

The Culture, Media and Sport committee also called on FIFA to explain the basis of its decision.