Alexander Isak didn't play much during the international break (Credits: Imago Images)
Donald Trump has made a stunning claim that Folarin Balogun’s challenge against Bosnia and Herzegovina did not even constitute a foul, let alone a red card offence.
The US President spoke to reporters and confirmed he personally contacted FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to request a review of the controversial decision.
Trump admitted during the press appearance that he had no idea what a red card meant until he began hearing about the consequences for Balogun.
He said: “I understand sports really well, and that wasn’t a foul. It wasn’t even an infraction. It was two guys running for the ball.”
Trump added: “The referee was a little bit suspect if you check his past. Very suspect. He made a call that nobody could believe.”
He continued: “He gave him a red card. I didn’t know what that meant, and then I started hearing that means he can’t play in the next game.”
Trump also questioned the logic of suspending a player for a match yet to be played, saying: “How do you penalise someone for a game that hasn’t been played yet? That’s not fair. So I asked for a review by FIFA.”
FIFA subsequently suspended Balogun’s one-game ban for up to a year, making him available for the United States’ round of 16 clash against Belgium.
The decision has drawn fierce criticism from across the sport, with UEFA and Jurgen Klopp among those condemning the interference from Trump and Infantino.
Klopp stated publicly that both Trump and Infantino know nothing about football and should keep their noses out of the game’s decisions.
The Royal Belgian Football Association released a strong statement saying it is “astonished” by FIFA’s decision and has received no formal explanation from the governing body.
The RBFA said: “The Royal Belgian Football Association is astonished by FIFA’s decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play in the USA-Belgium match on Monday, 6 July at 5:00 p.m. (Seattle time).”
The Belgian federation made clear it had no choice but to challenge Balogun’s eligibility ahead of the fixture given the lack of communication from FIFA.
The RBFA stated it is “deeply concerned by the course of events” and vowed to fight the decision in the hours, days, and months ahead.
Their statement added that the organisation is “investigating all potential options” to protect the principles of fair play at this World Cup and future tournaments.
The episode has raised serious questions about FIFA’s integrity, with the governing body facing near-universal criticism for appearing to bow to political pressure from a sitting head of state.
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