Donald Trump said Monday that a World Cup referee's decision to issue a red card to a U.S. player was "horrible" [1].
The comments highlight the intersection of high-level U.S. political influence and international sports governance during a tournament of global significance.
Speaking during an interview on Sky News’ programme "The World with Yalda Hakim," Trump said he criticized the officiating in a match involving the U.S. national team [2]. He said that he asked FIFA to review the red card [3]. Despite his request for a review, Trump said he leaves the outcome to FIFA [1].
Trump's intervention comes amid broader scrutiny of officiating during the tournament. While Trump focused on the U.S. match, other controversies have surfaced regarding rule interpretations. One such incident occurred June 20 during a match between Paraguay and Turkey [4].
The former president did not specify the exact nature of the foul that led to the U.S. player's dismissal, but he said the call was unjustified [1]. He said that while he believes the decision was wrong, the governing body should maintain the authority to make the final ruling [1].
FIFA has not issued a formal response to Trump's request for a review. The governing body typically adheres to the referee's on-field decisions unless a technical error is proven through a formal appeals process. The U.S. team's ability to compete without the sidelined player remains a critical factor in their tournament progression [3].
“"The red‑card call was horrible."”
Trump's public pressure on FIFA represents an unusual attempt by a political figure to influence the technical decisions of an independent sports body. While FIFA's regulations generally protect referee autonomy, the public nature of the request puts the organization in a position where it must balance its rules against the visibility of the U.S. market and political pressure.
