Trump sparks fury as FIFA overturns Folarin Balogun’s World Cup suspension following personal call
Donald Trump has found himself at the centre of yet another sporting storm after FIFA made the surprise decision to overturn Folarin Balogun’s World Cup suspension, leaving football fans and Belgium’s national team fuming.
The USA striker was originally ruled out of his side’s last-16 clash against Belgium after receiving a straight red card during the Americans’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
However, just a matter of days later, FIFA announced the suspension had been lifted, meaning Balogun is now free to play.
The decision has raised plenty of eyebrows, particularly after reports claimed Trump personally contacted FIFA several times in the days following the incident.
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According to The Guardian, sources said the 80-year-old US president made three calls to FIFA from Wednesday onwards in an attempt to push for the suspension to be overturned.
Neither the White House nor FIFA commented on those claims.
Trump, though, made his feelings very clear once the decision became official.
Posting on Truth Social on Sunday (5 July), he wrote: "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!"
Balogun had been shown a straight red card after catching Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic on the upper ankle. Referee Raphael Claus initially allowed play to continue before being advised by the video assistant referee to review the challenge on the pitchside monitor.
After watching the replay, Claus dismissed the Monaco forward for serious foul play. FIFA later confirmed he would serve an automatic one-match suspension.
That appeared to be the end of the story, as FIFA’s disciplinary code does not normally allow appeals against straight red cards.
Instead, the governing body used Article 27 of its disciplinary code to suspend the punishment itself. While Balogun’s red card will remain on his disciplinary record for a year, he will not miss the Belgium match unless he commits 'another infringement of a similar nature and gravity' during that probationary period.
The rarely used rule allows FIFA’s judicial committee to 'fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure', giving it the power to intervene in exceptional circumstances.
In a strongly worded statement, the Royal Belgium Football Association accused FIFA of contradicting its own regulations and suggested legal action could still follow.
"We are astonished by this decision," the statement read. "This decision is in direct contradiction to the provisions of the World Cup 2026 competition regulations.
"The automatic nature of such a suspension was also explicitly reaffirmed in World Cup 2026 Circular No 16, which was distributed to all participating member associations on 12 May 2026. The same rule is reiterated at every match coordination meeting before each match and all World Cup 2026 workshop presentations.
"In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the Belgian FA is investigating all potential options."
Tyla has reached out to the White House and FIFA for comment.
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, Football, World Cup
Rhiannon Ingle