FIFA revokes Balogun red card after Trump intervenes; will play vs. Belgium 

FIFA has suspended a red card issued to U.S. star striker Folarin Balogun, which would have prohibited him from playing in Monday night’s match against Belgium, after President Donald Trump encouraged a review of the call.

Trump confirmed he called FIFA President Gianni Infantino over the weekend to ask the World Cup’s governing body to review the red card. FIFA announced after the review that top scorer Balogun would be able to play in the U.S. vs. Belgium match after all.

“Yes, I asked for a review of FIFA,” Trump confirmed Monday in an Oval Office press conference. “All I did, I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul.”

The reversal of the red card has sparked backlash, with critics claiming Trump strong-armed FIFA into allowing Balogun to play in the next U.S. match.

“I didn’t tell them what to do,” Trump clarified. “I can’t tell them what to do.”

The controversial red card was issued by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus Wednesday during the U.S. vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina match after Balogun’s foot landed on Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic’s ankle while both players lunged for the ball.

Balogun and his teammates stared at Claus in disbelief as he held up the red card but otherwise did not react.

In the World Cup, red cards are issued for severe fouls involving speed, force and intentional malice, while yellow cards are given for unintentional, less severe fouls and serve as a warning. Two yellow cards equal a red card and carry the same punishment – immediate removal from the match and suspension from at least the next match.

“It’s important for me to say first and foremost it was totally unintentional, which I’m sure a lot of people know,” Balogun explained. “The choice of the referee is of course his choice, but I don’t think it was the correct call. I think a yellow card would’ve been fair.”

Balogun received the red card in the 64th minute of the match, and the U.S. was forced to play one man down for the remainder of the match, yet still secured a 2-0 win against Bosnia.

Because of the red card, Balogun was originally barred from participating in the round of 16 match between the U.S. and Belgium, which would send the American team to the quarterfinals for the second time ever with a win.

The red card sparked outrage on social media, with many believing the call was unfair and comparing Balogun’s offense to a similar situation where Argentinian striker Lionel Messi’s cleats struck Algeria defender Aissa Mandi in the calf, yet he did not receive a red or yellow card.

Trump said he believed Balogun’s play was not a foul, much less a red card.

“I saw the play and I’m a person that loves sports and was a good athlete, and I understand sports really well, really well, and 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. …

“How would you feel if we took Messi out – he ran into somebody. Or we took Ronaldo – Ronaldo, you bumped into somebody, so we’re going to take you out of a game. Or Harry Kane – Harry Kane, we’re going to take you out of a game because you happened to hit somebody a little bit harder.

“You can’t do that.”

Trump also referenced Claus’ controversial history as a reason to review the call.

“This referee, who is a little bit suspect if you check his past – I don’t want to say that because I don’t like to create controversy – but very suspect,” Trump said. “He made a call that nobody could believe, even the people on the other side.”

Brazil investigated Claus in 2024 for allegations of match-fixing and sports betting after several soccer clubs raised concerns about Claus allegedly giving a pattern of irregular cards. The Brazilian Football Confederation found him not guilty, and Claus went on to become a referee for the 2026 World Cup.

Belgium reacted to FIFA’s decision to lift Balogun’s suspension with frustration and submitted an appeal of the decision, which was denied.

“This decision clearly raises many questions,” Belgium Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said to The New York Times in a statement. “If a phone call really is what explains this incomprehensible decision, it would amount to undermining the most basic rules of soccer and sports.”

The Royal Belgian Football Association also said it is “astonished by FIFA’s decision.”

The U.S. and Belgium faced each other in the 2014 World Cup – also during the round of 16 – which resulted in a 2-1 win for Belgium after the match went into extra time. The U.S. has not won a World Cup or international friendly soccer match against Belgium in nearly 100 years. The last time the U.S. defeated Belgium was during the first-ever World Cup in 1930 in Uruguay with a score of 3-0.

Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was also the goalkeeper in the 2014 U.S. vs. Belgium match and says the American team has improved significantly since then. He said Belgium is expecting Monday’s match to be a tough game. 

“I think they can produce a lot of talent and become a world force,” he said to Fox News. “They’re already a great team together, they play well. So I think that’s a good evolution, and they’re showing it this World Cup.”

Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel played in the 2014 match as well and agrees the American team has grown since then.

“I think technically they are better,” Witsel said, talking about the U.S. “Physically and also the intensity they can put during the game.

“And of course, the way they coach.”

The U.S. and Belgium play Monday at 7 p.m. in Seattle. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals to face the winner of the Portugal vs. Spain game, which takes place Monday at 2 p.m.

“The people in Belgium, if they win the game, they can be very proud,” Trump said, but noted it would not be the same if the red card had not been suspended.

“If they would win the game with a player missing, it would’ve been a different feeling.”

(Photo credit: Folarin Balogun, Instagram, @balogun)