By John Akomaye, JKNewsMedia Intern
CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING world football governing body FIFA’s decision to suspend United States’ goal scorer, Folarin Balogun‘s one match red card ban intensified after its former president, Sepp Blatter, criticised the ruling and US President Donald Trump confirmed he had spoken with FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the incident.
Trump says he asked FIFA head to review red card but ‘didn’t tell him what to do.’
JKNewsMedia.com reports that Balogun received a red card during the US’ win over Bosnia and Herzegovina after stepping on the ankle of a defender while attempting to control the ball.
The card was issued following a VAR review. It was later widely reported that Trump called Infantino and asked FIFA to review the incident.
On Sunday, FIFA announced that the suspension had been put on hold, making Balogun available for the World Cup match against Belgium.
Blatter, who remains suspended from FIFA activities until 2027 following corruption related bans, wrote on X: “Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies. If a U.S. President intervenes with the FIFA President and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match, the question is unavoidable: Quo vadis, FIFA?
“Football must never become a playground for political power,” Blatter wrote.
Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and White House task force leader Andrew Giuliani were reported to have assembled a team of lawyers outside the White House to challenge the use of slow-motion replay in the decision to send off Balogun.
It remains unclear how much FIFA considered that approach.
Belgium was reportedly granted the right to appeal the decision and requested a comprehensive explanation from FIFA on why the suspension was postponed.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it was “astonished” by the decision, while Belgium coach Rudi Garcia criticised the ruling.
“I didn’t know that in the offices of FIFA the fifth of July was the first of April in Europe,” Garcia said through a translator.
“The Belgian federation does not defend itself, it does not protect the national team. She defends football in general, she defends her integrity, her ethics. I think it’s the first time in the history of the World Cup that there is this kind of decision.”
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump confirmed he had spoken with Infantino about the incident but said he had only requested a review.
“I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul. All I did was ask for a review, I didn’t say you have to do this,” Trump said.
“That wasn’t even an infraction. That was two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other.”
Balogun was sent off in the 64th minute of the round of 32 match between the US and Bosnia and Herzegovina and was due to miss the last 16 fixture against Belgium before FIFA suspended the one match ban for one year.
The decision continued to attract criticism, with Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) accusing FIFA of crossing a “red line” with an “unjustifiable” verdict and saying it “creates a precedent” that could be detrimental to the ongoing FIFA World Cup or the sport itself.
RBFA also said the ruling contravened the provisions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 competition regulations and that it was investigating “all potential options” to protect the integrity of the game.
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