Trump Got a Red Card!

 

For 24 days, the World Cup seemed to achieve a rare feat in America in 2026: It had almost nothing to do with Donald Trump. But in an extraordinary twist following an appeal from the President, star US goal-scorer Folarin Balogun was permitted to play in the knockout clash with Belgium despite being sent off in the previous match and earning a one-game ban.

 

Trump added more rhetorical rocket fuel to the controversy, confirming that he’d called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to ask him to review the suspension. Balogun’s reprieve rocked global soccer, triggering fresh speculation about the cozy relationship between Trump and the FIFA supremo.

 

Source: https://www.wikiwand.com

 

Trump’s call to Infantino and FIFA’s ultimate decision lifted a controversy about soccer refereeing into an international incident surrounding the world’s most popular sporting showcase. The subsequent drama raises concerns about political interference and the integrity of the tournament. It doesn’t necessarily matter whether Trump’s muscling into the issue was decisive. Just the impression that it was risks souring global perceptions of an event that had generated remarkably positive headlines.

 

Controversy is guaranteed at World Cup finals. Who could forget Diego Maradona’s “hand of God” goal for Argentina in 1986 or French star Zinedine Zidane’s 2006 World Cup final headbutt? But there is no known precedent for a political leader pressuring FIFA about who can play in a game, let alone one that is so important to a host nation’s chances of advancing.

In isolation, there are good reasons to think Balogun got a raw deal when he was sent off during the national team’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. But Trump’s decision to get involved introduces the possibility that Balogun’s reprieve may not be on the grounds of fairness alone.

The FIFA disciplinary committee invoked Article 27 of its code, which allows the full or partial suspension of a disciplinary measure under a probationary period. The red card remains in place, and if Balogun commits another offense, the suspension will be restored, along with potential new penalties.

 

It was not the first time FIFA used the clause. It previously stirred accusations of favoritism toward a box-office player when it allowed Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo to play in the preliminary rounds of these finals despite facing suspensions for a red card in a qualifying game.

 

And Trump’s political career shows he hardly sees rules as an impediment. It’s not important how you win. It’s winning that counts. The two have had something of a bromance, and the FIFA chief’s support often seemed a direct political endorsement of a hugely controversial president.

 

Now the precedent is set, who is to say whether other powerful world leaders might think they can grab a political win by pressuring FIFA over an on-field incident? And every controversial challenge for the rest of the World Cup is now going to face huge scrutiny. If FIFA invoked its hazy powers to suspend the Balogun ban, is it not now honor-bound to do so for any player of any other nation?

 

But Belgium won by 4-1 and that settles it. Does it? No! It is a bad precedent. Why didn’t Trump ask FIFA to review the Belgium goals? It could be off-side? Maybe a replay or better still award the match to the USA? And while we are at it PMX should persuade Trump to ask FIFA to review the so-called “Malaysian” players status, so that they could continue to play for Malaysia?

 

Reference:

Trump’s red card call stirs political storm around World Cup, Stephen Collinson, CNN, 6 July 2026