President Donald Trump said Monday that he asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review a red card given to U.S. striker Folarin Balogun [1].
The request marks a rare instance of a sitting U.S. president attempting to influence the officiating of an international sporting event. Such interventions raise questions regarding the independence of soccer's governing body, and the boundaries of diplomatic pressure in global sports.
Speaking during a White House press briefing on July 6 [1], Trump said that he did not request the card be overturned, but rather that the decision be reviewed. He described the referee's call as "horrible" and argued that the play was not a foul [1].
"I asked for a review because I didn't think it was a foul," Trump said [1].
Trump also questioned the integrity of the official involved in the match. He suggested the referee's history was questionable, though he stopped short of making a specific accusation to avoid creating further controversy [1].
"This referee, who is a little bit suspect if you check his past. I don't want say that because I don't like to create controversy, but very suspect," Trump said [1].
In further remarks reported by MSN, Trump compared the officiating to political events, saying, "It was rigged, just like the election was rigged in 2020" [3].
FIFA has not officially commented on whether a review of the Balogun incident will take place or if the president has responded to the request from the White House [1].
“"I asked for a review because I didn't think it was a foul."”
This intervention reflects a crossover between national political leadership and international sports governance. While FIFA maintains a policy of neutrality and independence from government interference, a direct request from a head of state puts the organization in a difficult position regarding its regulatory autonomy and the perceived fairness of the game's officiating.
