Trump says he disputed U.S. star player’s suspension, calling it ‘stain’ on World Cup
WASHINGTON— President Trump said Monday that he called the FIFA president to object to a red card that would prevent American forward Folarin Balogun from playing in Monday’s qualifier against Belgium, acknowledging extraordinary interference by a head of state in the sport’s disciplinary process.
“I asked for a review because I didn’t think there was foul play,” Trump told reporters during an event in the Oval Office. “I’m good at this. I didn’t think it was a foul. I thought it was two great athletes bumping into each other and getting tangled up.”
FIFA later lifted Balogun’s suspension; It was the first time in 64 years that the governing body had overturned a red card penalty during a World Cup. Belgium protested the decision and a hearing is scheduled for Monday to determine whether Balogun’s reinstatement should be valid.
Trump said scrapping the penalty would be a “stain” on the World Cup and even described the referee who gave the card as “suspicious” with a questionable past, but did not provide evidence to support the accusation.
While many in the United States joined the president in celebrating this comeback, others criticized its negative impact on the integrity of the sport.
While the Belgian team protested the reversal of the penalty, the country’s football federation said it was “surprised” by the decision.
Belgian coach Rudi Garcia said, “We do not defend the national team or the federation. We defend football.”
In the episode, attention was drawn to Trump’s close relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino. In December, Infantino presented Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, which the governing body created after Trump was handed the Nobel Peace Prize. This decision is currently the subject of an ethics complaint, supported by members of the European Parliament. It jeopardized FIFA’s political neutrality.
Trump appeared to downplay the significance of his call to Infantino.
“I can’t tell him what to do, and I don’t believe he made that decision,” Trump said. “I think it was a committee that made the decision and they made the right decision because, number one, it wasn’t a foul and you want to see a game with your best players.”
But he said it would be “very unfair” and “terrible” not to allow Balogun to play. He said it would be the equivalent of Argentina’s Lionel Messi or Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, both global superstars, being banned for “running” or “bumping” into someone on the pitch.
“We need to have our best players, they need to have their best players. If we win or lose, that’s fair,” Trump said. “Let’s say we lose [Balogun] and we lose the game; “That would be a very bad thing.”
