Folarin Balogun started for the United States against Belgium in the World Cup round of 16 Monday night in Seattle after FIFA lifted his one-game red card suspension, a decision that followed a phone call between President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
According to CBS News, Balogun received the red card on July 1 during the Americans' 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina after stepping on the right ankle of Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemović. The red card carried an automatic one-game suspension. FIFA had initially told ABC News that the call was final and could not be overturned or appealed.
Trump confirmed Monday that he called Infantino and asked for a review. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said he saw the play and did not believe it was a foul. "I asked for a review because I didn't think it was a foul," he said. "I thought it was two great athletes that crashed into each other and got entangled." Trump also commented on the referee who made the call. "And this referee, who is a little bit suspect if you check his, if you check his past," he said. "I don't want to say that because I don't like to create controversy, but very suspect. If you like, I'll provide you with the past. He made a call that nobody could believe. Even people on the other side, they said 'We got lucky.'"
Trump said he did not tell Infantino what to do and did not claim credit for the reversal. "I can't tell him what to do," Trump said. "I don't believe he made the decision. I think it was a committee that made the decision, and they made the right decision." Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House's World Cup task force, also spoke to Infantino about the situation. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick was also in communication with FIFA.
Infantino confirmed the call in a statement Monday but said FIFA's judicial bodies acted independently. "During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA's independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies," he said. FIFA's disciplinary committee also fined Balogun $40,000, a penalty the U.S. Soccer Federation can pay. FIFA cited Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, which gives the disciplinary committee discretion to suspend implementation of any disciplinary measures not related to match manipulation.
The reaction across soccer was swift and sharp. UEFA, European soccer's governing body, said in a statement that a red card suspension is "a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension." UEFA added: "We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision." The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was "astonished" by FIFA's decision and was investigating all potential options to protect what it called the fundamental principles of fair play. Belgium's appeal to have the suspension reinstated was denied by FIFA's appeals committee, which ruled the Belgian federation lacked standing. Belgium fans chanted "FIFA Mafia" during their pregame march to Lumen Field.
Balogun's three goals lead the U.S. team in the tournament. The Americans have never won consecutive knockout-round games at the World Cup. Belgium eliminated the U.S. in the 2014 round of 16. The U.S. last reached the quarterfinals in 2002. The winner of Monday's match faces Spain on Friday in Inglewood, California, with a semifinal berth against France or Morocco on the line.
