Trump confirms Infantino call over Balogun ban and labels referee 'suspect'

U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed he personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino following Folarin Balogun’s red card in the United States’ World Cup group-stage victory over Bosnia & Herzegovina, while maintaining he played no direct role in the subsequent decision to suspend the ban.

Trump said he asked only for a review of the incident, describing the collision as “two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other” rather than a foul warranting a sending-off. “All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say, ‘You have to do this,’” Trump told reporters. “I didn’t tell him [Infantino] what to do, I can’t tell him what to do.”

The president added that the independent committee tasked with reviewing the decision “made the right call,” effectively endorsing the outcome that cleared Balogun to continue in the tournament.

Trump went further by questioning the referee’s integrity, describing him as “a little bit suspect” and urging journalists to “check his past” — remarks that are likely to draw scrutiny given the political weight behind them.

The episode raises pointed questions about the boundary between political pressure and FIFA’s disciplinary independence, particularly with the United States co-hosting the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico. FIFA has not publicly commented on the nature or content of the call between Trump and Infantino.