United States President, Donald Trump, has welcomed FIFA’s decision to suspend the one-match ban handed to Folarin Balogun, arguing that the striker should never have been sent off in the first place.
According to Sky Sports, FIFA cleared Balogun to feature in the United States’ Round of 16 clash against Belgium after the White House requested that FIFA President Gianni Infantino review the incident that led to the Arsenal forward’s dismissal.
Balogun was shown a red card during the United States’ victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, triggering an automatic one-match suspension.
However, Sky Sports reported that FIFA later suspended the ban for one year, making the striker eligible for the Belgium encounter.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump insisted the challenge did not warrant a red card.
“I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul. Red card, I didn’t know what the hell a red card was. When I found out, I said, you gotta be kidding,” Trump said.
The US president described the incident as an accidental coming together between two players rather than an act of violent conduct.
“I thought it was two great athletes that crashed into each other and got entangled. That was not a guy punching somebody in the face or anything,” he added.
Trump stressed that his role was limited to requesting a review of the decision and denied attempting to influence FIFA’s ruling.
“I didn’t tell him what to do, I can’t tell him what to do,” he said.
He also commended FIFA for overturning the suspension, saying supporters deserve to see the biggest matches contested by the strongest available teams.
“I think they made a really brilliant decision. You want to see a game with your best players,” Trump said.
The decision has generated criticism across European football. Reuters reported that UEFA accused FIFA of having “crossed a red line,” while Belgium questioned Balogun’s eligibility for the knockout fixture.
Sky Sports further reported that the Belgian Football Association said it was “astonished” by the ruling and was exploring possible options in response.
Trump argued that excluding one of the United States’ key players from such an important match would have diminished the spectacle of the tournament.
“If you would have taken him out, I think it would have really stained this incredible tournament,” he said.
The reversal of Balogun’s suspension continues to generate debate and is expected to remain one of the biggest talking points of the World Cup as the United States progresses in the knockout stages.
