FIFA boss Infantino downplays Trump’s influence in US forward Balogun’s red card backflip

Tuesday, 7 July 2026

US President Donald Trump said on Monday (local time) he called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review the red card given to US mens soccer striker Folarin Balogun, calling it a 'horrible' call.

With the integrity of FIFA and the World Cup under attack from European soccer leaders, FIFA President Gianni Infantino acknowledged taking a call from US President Donald Trump before United States star forward Folarin Balogun was cleared to play against Belgium later on Monday (local time).

Infantino insisted in a social media post that FIFA's disciplinary committee acted with independence and judged cases such as Balogun's on “applicable regulations and the specific facts.”

Balogun is free to face Belgium in the round of 16 later Monday in Seattle despite being sent off in the previous round which should have resulted in a mandatory one-game ban.

The Belgian soccer federation earlier said FIFA had not provided key documents for its appeal, and Norway's federation said the lack of legal explanation from FIFA was “reason for concern regarding the integrity of the competition.”

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) said in a statement that a minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted.

United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, left, talks to the Director of the FBI, Kash Patel, right, as FIFA President Gianni Infantino, centre, watches ahead of the World Cup Group K soccer match between Colombia and Portugal in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

“It is a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension,” the body, that covers all regulated association football in Europe, said.

“When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined. Equally, such decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition.”

Belgian appeal rejected

Meanwhile, a late appeal by Belgium was rejected by FIFA.

'The FIFA Appeal Committee has rendered a request submitted by the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) as inadmissible,' FIFA said in a statement.

United States' Folarin Balogun (20) attends a training session ahead of their World Cup round of 16 soccer match against Belgium in Seattle, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

'The request was rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to ⁠appeal the decision.'

Reuters reported that the Appeal Committee is chaired by American Neil Eggleston but FIFA said he was not involved in the decision.

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said they would challenge Balogun’s eligibility if he appeared on a team sheet.

“Regardless of the sporting outcome of this match, the RBFA is deeply concerned by the course of events and will continue to fight in the coming hours, days and months in defence of the fundamental principles of ethics, fair competition, and the interests of football as a whole.”

– Stuff and AP