President Donald Trump said he called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of a red card given to U.S. forward Folarin Balogun [1].
The intervention by a head of state into a match official's decision raises significant questions about the independence of sports governing bodies and the integrity of the World Cup.
Speaking during a White House press briefing on Monday, July 6 [2], Trump said the red-card decision during a match against Belgium was "horrible" [3]. He said that he contacted Infantino to ask for a possible reversal of the call because he believed it unfairly impacted the U.S. team's prospects in the tournament [3].
Trump's account of the outcome varied across different statements. In one instance, he said, "I'm the one that got them to do it" [2]. However, he also said that he left the final outcome to FIFA [3].
FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed the communication occurred. In a statement, Infantino said, "I received a call from President Trump regarding the red-card decision" [4].
During his speech at the White House, Trump said the referee involved in the play was "very suspect" [2]. The U.S. team's progress in the tournament has become a focal point of the president's public commentary this week [2].
While the president maintains he merely requested a review, the admission of a direct phone call to the head of the world's largest soccer organization during an active tournament is unprecedented — a move that has sparked debate among sports analysts and officials [1].
“"I'm the one that got them to do it."”
This incident represents a rare intersection of high-level diplomacy and professional sports officiating. By openly acknowledging his attempt to influence a disciplinary decision, the president challenges the established boundary between national leadership and the autonomous regulation of international athletics, potentially setting a precedent for political interference in global sporting events.
