President Donald Trump said Monday that he asked FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the red card issued against a star American soccer player ahead of a monumental last-16 game, but emphasized that he did not unduly influence the controversial decision.
The ruling by the international soccer governing body to suspend a red card issued against American Folarin Balogun during its knockout tilt against Bosnia and Herzegovina sparked concerns over the president’s potential influence over the decision. POLITICO reported Sunday that Trump had called Infantino regarding the red card, which the president subsequently confirmed Monday.
“Yes, I asked for a review by FIFA,” Trump told reporters gathered in the Oval Office.
However, the president rebuffed the idea that his talks with Infantino influenced the decision, even as the FIFA president has cozied up to Trump during his second term — showering him in compliments and creating a new “peace prize” that he awarded Trump ahead of the tournament.
“All I did was ask for a review,” Trump said. “I didn’t say that you have to do this.”
The comments come after a slate of other nations’ soccer federations panned the decision, with the European Commission demanding “fair play and transparent competition” in sports. Belgian officials, whose country will play against the U.S. today, expressed intense consternations and have formally challenged the ruling.
Trump on Monday described his reaction to the initial game call as confused. He characterized the collision between Balogun and Tarik Muharemović as the two players being “sort of entangled” and, upon learning that a red card would bar Balogun from suiting up for the U.S.’s match against Belgium, thought it was “unfair.”
“It is one thing to penalize somebody for the game,” Trump said. “But how do you penalize him for a game that hasn’t been played yet? It’s very unfair, you can’t do that.”
The president took the opportunity to celebrate the success of the World Cup— which has high attendance across its venues and strong viewership — and said Balogun’s red card would have been a “big stain” on the tournament had it been upheld.
The president on Monday cast suspicions on the referee who delivered the red card to Balogun, Brazilian official Raphael Claus, calling him “a little bit suspect, if you check his past.”
Asked by a reporter if he had spoken with the Belgian prime minister, Trump said he hadn’t but would be open to it. Belgium’s foreign minister told POLITICO that the decision “raises many questions,” its soccer federation issued a livid statement in the aftermath of the decision and subsequently challenged Balogun’s eligibilityahead of the match.
“I will tell you this,” Trump continued. “The people of Belgium, if they win the game, they can be very proud.”