FIFA's credibility was shaken by one of the strangest and most controversial episodes in modern World Cup history, after the governing body decided to **suspend the ban** on USA striker Folarin Balogun, who had been sent off with a straight red card, following a phone call from US President Donald Trump to FIFA president Gianni Infantino asking him to review the decision. (PBS/AP)
What happened on the pitch?
Balogun was sent off with a straight red card during the USA's round-of-32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, after a VAR review showed he dragged his cleats down the back of Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemović's leg and onto his foot. Under the rules applied to every red card issued at this World Cup up to that point, the decision meant an automatic one-match ban for the USA's next fixture, against Belgium in the round of 16. (ESPN)
Trump's call — and FIFA's controversial reversal
According to an Associated Press report, Trump called Infantino immediately after the match to ask for a review. Hours later, FIFA issued an official statement citing Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code: "the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year. If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced." Balogun was thus cleared to play against Belgium. (NBC News)
After the decision, Trump wrote on his social platform: "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!" (CNBC)
A precedent unseen since 1962
This marks only the second known instance in World Cup history of FIFA lifting a red-card suspension after the fact. The first involved Brazilian legend Garrincha, who was cleared to play in the 1962 final despite being sent off in the semi-final — a parallel that made this decision all the more startling, given the only prior case dates back more than six decades.
Belgian anger and a mocking coach
The Belgian reaction came swiftly. The Royal Belgian Football Association issued a statement saying it was "astonished" by the reversal, while Belgium coach Rudi Garcia openly mocked FIFA's decision, warning it opens a dangerous door to political interference in sporting disciplinary rulings. (ESPN)
The Infantino-Trump relationship
The call did not happen in a vacuum. Infantino had spent recent months cultivating a relationship with Trump, culminating last December when FIFA awarded him its inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, a new award created ahead of the 2026 World Cup. That closeness has led many to question whether the reversal was driven more by personal ties than by pure disciplinary reasoning.
What it means going forward
The decision has opened a wide debate about the independence of sporting rulings and their immunity from outside interference, political or otherwise. While supporters argue it corrected a possible refereeing error, critics fear it sets a precedent for future pressure from governments or influential figures on FIFA's disciplinary process — potentially undermining trust in the integrity of the world's biggest tournament.
Follow Malaab Al-An for every development in this story and full coverage of USA vs Belgium in the round of 16.