Reporting

Trump Admits to Making Call Over FIFA Red Flag

President Donald Trump confirmed Monday he made a call to FIFA President Gianni Infantino when U.S. Men’s National Team star Folarin Balogun was given a red flag, meaning he would not be eligible to play in Monday’s game if the call stood.

Sandra RhodesJul 6, 20263 min read

2026 FIFA World Cup Donald Trump Gianni Infantino

When U.S. Men’s National Team star Folarin Balogun became banned from Monday’s game, President Donald Trump saw red.

That’s because Balogun was hit with a controversial red card during Wednesday’s FIFA World Cup match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. That’s meant he would not be eligible for Monday’s game against Belgium.

The president confirmed Monday he called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to see if he could getBalogun reinstated.

Trump was asked to describe his call with Infantino during a White House press conference.

Trump said he “understands sports really, really well,” so he felt the need to say something when he saw a slow motion replay of the collision that resulted in Balogun’s red card.

“They got sort of entangled. He didn’t do anything wrong, and he’s our best player — or one of our best players. A very vital player. And he gave him a red card. I didn’t know what that meant. I didn’t think it meant much,” Trump said. “Then I started hearing that that means he can’t play in the next game — at least in the next game. I said, boy, that’s a big [problem]. You know, if it happened to another player, it would have been unfair. But when they take your best player, or just about — they have some great players — and they say you can’t play, that’s very unfair.”

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https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2074138154995515606?s=20

“It’s one thing to penalize somebody for the game. But how do you penalize him for a game that hasn’t been played yet? You can’t do that. So yes, I asked for a review,” Trump continued.

He claimed the referee who made the call was “a little bit suspect.”

He praised Infantino, saying his respect had gone up “10-fold.”

“All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say you have to do this. This man is a smart, tough man, Gianni Infantino. He’s a smart, tough man, and his stock has gone through the roof because the job he’s done has been great,” Trump said. “And I feel we have to have all the best players on the field. You can’t take the best players.”

The Royal Belgian Football Association said Sunday it was “astonished” Balogun was going to be able to play Monday.

Trump said it wouldn’t be a real match if Balogun was kept out, though.

“The people in Belgium, if they win the game, they can be very proud,” Trump said. “If they would win the game with a player missing, it would have been a different feeling. You can’t do that.”