President Trump launched a sharp attack from the White House on Monday against the World Cup referee who issued a red card to U.S. men's national team forward Folarin Balogun, labeling the official as “a little bit suspect if you check his past.” The comments came after FIFA overturned the suspension, a move that has roiled the international soccer community.
Brazilian referee Raphael Claus, who issued the red card following a video assistant referee review, has previously faced allegations of match-fixing, though no formal charges were ever proven. Trump seized on that history during a press briefing, dismissing the call as unjust and questioning the referee’s integrity.
“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,” Trump said. “These were two great athletes who got tangled, and this referee who is a little bit suspect if you check his past. He made a call that nobody could believe.”
The incident occurred during a group-stage match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, where Balogun accidentally stepped on an opponent’s ankle while both players were falling. On-field officials initially did not deem it a red-card offense, but Claus upgraded it after reviewing video footage. Balogun was ejected, forcing the U.S. to play a man down—though they still won the match.
The red card carried an automatic one-game suspension, which would have sidelined Balogun for Monday’s crucial knockout match against Belgium. Trump personally contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review, and on Sunday, FIFA reversed the ban, clearing Balogun to play.
“It’s one thing to penalize somebody for the game, but how do you penalize them for a game that hasn’t even been played yet? It’s very unfair,” Trump said. He added that if Belgium beat the U.S. with Balogun on the field, it would be a fair contest, but a win with him suspended would be seen as “rigged.”
FIFA’s decision to overturn the red card has sparked a firestorm. The Royal Belgian Football Association publicly expressed “astonishment” and formally appealed the reversal. Several soccer figures, including the Norway coach, have also criticized the move, calling it a “bad decision” that undermines the sport’s integrity. The Norway coach blasted FIFA's Balogun reversal after Trump call as a 'bad decision', echoing concerns that political influence is creeping into the game.
UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, condemned the reversal as a “red-line” breach of protocol, warning that it sets a dangerous precedent. UEFA condemned FIFA's Balogun ban reversal after Trump call as a 'red-line' breach, highlighting tensions between global soccer authorities.
Trump’s intervention has drawn both praise from American fans and sharp criticism from international observers who argue that political pressure should not influence sporting decisions. Trump's FIFA inquiry sparks outrage ahead of US-Belgium World Cup match, with many questioning the fairness of the process.
Balogun, one of the U.S. team’s top players, is now expected to start against Belgium. The controversy, however, has cast a shadow over what was already a high-stakes match, with the global soccer community watching closely to see how the fallout unfolds.
