Donald Trump said he called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of a red card given to U.S. striker Folarin Balogun [1].
The intervention highlights a rare instance of a former U.S. president attempting to influence the officiating of an international sporting event. Such actions raise questions about the intersection of political influence and the autonomy of global sports governing bodies.
Trump said the collision leading to the ejection was not a foul [1]. He said he disagreed with the official's decision, stating that the referee is "very suspect" [2].
According to Trump, the phone call to Infantino was a direct effort to seek a formal reconsideration of the penalty [1]. He said the player did not commit a foul during the play [2].
"That wasn't a foul," Trump said [2].
"I called Gianni Infantino to ask for a review of the red card," Trump said [2].
FIFA has not issued a public statement regarding the phone call or any potential review of the match officials' decision. The red card typically removes a player from the remainder of a game and can lead to suspensions in subsequent matches, significantly impacting the U.S. men's national team strategy.
“"That wasn't a foul."”
This incident underscores a willingness by Donald Trump to leverage personal relationships with international leaders to challenge administrative decisions in sports. While FIFA maintains strict protocols for refereeing reviews, the public admission of such a call places the organization in a position where it must balance diplomatic relations with the integrity of its on-field officiating.
