- DBS WIRE: Reuters — UEFA slams FIFA’s ‘unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable’ Balogun decision
President Donald Trump may have just helped deliver one of the biggest assists in U.S. soccer history.
FIFA lifted Folarin Balogun’s controversial one-game suspension Sunday, clearing the star American striker to play against Belgium in Monday’s World Cup Round of 16 showdown in Seattle. The decision came after U.S. Soccer pushed back hard, reportedly prepared legal action, and Trump personally reached out to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Balogun had been shown a red card in the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina after VAR ruled that he committed serious foul play by stepping on defender Tarik Muharemovic’s ankle. The on-field referee had not even called a foul in real time before video review changed the call.
The New York Post and other outlets reported that U.S. Soccer officials argued FIFA had misapplied the VAR process, using slow-motion replay not merely to determine contact, but to judge intent and severity. U.S. Soccer attorneys were reportedly involved, along with White House attorneys, and the matter reached the president.
After FIFA reversed the suspension, Trump posted on Truth Social, “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” But the call from Trump was reportedly just an inquiry and not pressure, according to sources.
Sophia Cai, who posted a timeline on X, wrote “On *Thursday* Trump dialed Gianni Infantino and asked abt FIFA’s rules around the red card decision and grounds for suspension. (They’ve known each other for 8 yrs.)”
FULL timeline of the campaign to bring Balogun back, according to a half dozen U.S. government & soccer officials:
– Wednesday after U.S.-Bosnia match: Andrew Giuliani alerted Trump to the red card (Trump & Giuliani had been talking multiple times/week since start of World Cup…— Sophia Cai (@SophiaCai99) July 6, 2026
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said he was not part of the legal or political effort, but welcomed the result. “Of course, the Federation was working really hard to defend our situation,” Pochettino said. “My reaction is like everyone who really loves the sport and trusts in the ethics and integrity. We celebrate that decision. We were punished enough against Bosnia and Herzegovina, playing with 10 men for 30 minutes because of a decision that was completely unfair.”
Christian Pulisic also defended Balogun, saying, “If you look at the foul, there was zero intent at all. I felt like there were much worse fouls that went on in this tournament.”
Defender Chris Richards said the team could barely believe the news at first.
“A lot of us thought it was AI at first,” Richards said. “We didn’t believe it. Overall, just very happy and excited. He strikes fear into a lot of defenders.”
That fear apparently reached Belgium.
Belgian officials were granted the right to appeal FIFA’s decision Monday, according to reports. UEFA then blasted FIFA, accusing soccer’s governing body of crossing a “red line.”
“Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition,” UEFA said. “Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not.”
UEFA called FIFA’s decision “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable,” warning that the ruling could damage the integrity of the World Cup.
Belgium’s coach Rudi Garcia also slammed the reversal, reportedly comparing it to an April Fools’ joke.
Still, the facts remain simple: Balogun did not appear to intend harm, the original red card was widely criticized, and the United States had already played a man down for roughly half an hour in a knockout match.
Now, after legal pressure, a presidential phone call, and one very angry European soccer establishment, America’s top striker is back where he belongs — on the field.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This post has been updated from its original form to clarify Trump’s reported call.
