Trump admits asking FIFA to review Balogun punishment | OneFootball

Donald Trump said on Monday (6) that he had personally asked FIFA to review the punishment handed to player Folarin Balogun.

The information was first reported by Sophia Cai of Politico, even before the release of the U.S. president’s video.

At a meeting at the White House, Trump said he had spoken about the case directly with the head of the organization, Gianni Infantino, whom he described as "a very respected man."

Trump himself justified his request based on his view of the play that led to the red card for the U.S. player.

📸 Michael Steele - 2026 Getty Images

"I’ve never seen anything like it. I watched the play... that wasn’t a foul. It wasn’t even an infringement. They were two players running at full speed who happened to collide... So yes, I asked FIFA for a review," Trump said.

Trump also said that his intervention was limited to requesting a reexamination of the case, without demanding any specific outcome. "All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say they had to do it," he stressed.

The U.S. president’s remarks come amid an ongoing dispute between the Belgian Football Federation (RBFA) and FIFA, driven precisely by the lack of official explanations over the overturning of Balogun’s suspension.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 Michael Steele - 2026 Getty Images