The Football World Cup found itself at the center of a scandal that has never been seen before.
British media claim that the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, allegedly personally intervened with FIFA so that Folarin Balogun could still play in the round of 16 against Belgium.
It all started after the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, in which the USA won 2:0. Folarin Balogun scored a goal, but in the 64th minute received a direct red card due to a harsh tackle. He was expected to automatically miss the next match, as almost no one questioned the correctness of the referee’s decision.
However, a complete turnaround followed.
Za ten wredny faul Florian Balogun dostał czerwoną kartkę.
— Jacek Liberski 🇵🇱🇪🇺🇺🇲🏳️🌈 (@jacek_liberski) July 5, 2026
FIFA właśnie cofnęła automatyczne zawieszenie kary, co oznacza, że będzie mógł zagrać w kolejnym meczu.
Trump oficjalnie podziękował @FIFAcom.
Brud w sporcie, brud w polityce.
Dzisiejszy świat. pic.twitter.com/vzYCU1uwcs
As reported by The Guardian, Trump contacted FIFA leaders as many as three times in a span of just four days and demanded that the decision be changed. In the end, an unprecedented decision followed – Balogun was given a so-called suspended suspension, which means that the red card remains recorded, but without a ban on playing in the very next match.
Such a move caused a storm in the football public. Many consider it a dangerous precedent, because a penalty imposed on the pitch is practically being changed, and that following alleged political pressure.
Because of this, questions immediately arose as to whether the rules apply equally to everyone or if certain national teams can count on special treatment when they have political influence and power behind them.
Shortly after, Trump also spoke out, not hiding his satisfaction with FIFA’s decision.
“Thank you FIFA, you did what is right and corrected a great injustice,” Trump wrote on social networks.
USA-USA-USA 🦅 https://t.co/yKnJxew9tU pic.twitter.com/75KmExgrUJ
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 5, 2026
What happened in detail?
The battle for Folarin Balogun began practically the exact moment the USA forward was sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Just a few minutes after the direct red card, the Executive Director of the White House World Cup Task Force, Andrew Giuliani, informed President Donald Trump about the situation.
The White House then got involved in the story, considering the punishment to be too harsh, which was also claimed by certain football analysts. Giuliani, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and high-ranking officials of the US Football Federation, who watched the match from the stands of Levi’s Stadium, immediately began preparing an appeal, even though such requests are extremely rare at World Cups.
Already the next day, according to the same sources, Trump personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino, with whom he had built a close relationship over the previous years. He allegedly inquired about the rules and the basis for Balogun’s suspension. FIFA did not want to comment on the content of the conversation, explaining that the decision was made by the independent Disciplinary Committee.
While the legal team of the US Football Federation was preparing the official appeal, White House lawyers also offered assistance. At the same time, Giuliani and Scott Goodwin, a hedge fund manager who participated in financing coach Mauricio Pochettino’s salary, analyzed previous decisions of Brazilian referee Raphael Claus in search of arguments that could go in favor of the American national team.
— Out Of Context Football (@nocontextfooty) July 5, 2026
The case soon reached the top of FIFA. According to media reports, a key role in the process was played by Emilio Garcia, who is in charge of legal matters at the world house of football and who advised Infantino.
In the end, a complete turnaround followed. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee decided to issue a one-year stay of execution on Balogun’s suspension, which practically meant that the forward could play against Belgium in the round of 16.
Such a decision caused stormy reactions in Belgium and across Europe. The Football Association of Belgium announced that it is considering all legal options.
“In order to protect the legitimate rights of all participants and the fundamental principles of fair play, both at this World Cup and in future tournaments, we are investigating all available options,” the statement said.
Belgian politicians also reacted sharply.
“True strength lies in a victory achieved through fair play. Belgium will show that tomorrow,” said Wallonia Sports Minister Jacqueline Galant.
An even fiercer message came from the opposition Socialist Party:
“Shame on you! When money dictates the rules, the World Cup loses all credibility.”
The entire affair has reopened the question of the relationship between the Trump administration and the top of FIFA. Particular attention is directed toward Gianni Infantino and his connections with the American president.
Back at the end of last year, criticisms arose within FIFA that the organization’s president was damaging the reputation of the world house of football with his relationship with Trump.
“The scale of closeness between Mr. Infantino and Mr. Trump goes beyond even what we have seen before,” said Miguel Maduro, former chairman of the FIFA Governance Committee, at the time.
According to British media reports, at least three FIFA vice presidents expressed concern over Infantino’s readiness to accommodate Trump, while the President of the Football Association of Norway, Lise Klaveness, also criticized his frequent travels by private jet during the World Cup.
MORE TOPICS:
Source: Nova.rs; Photo: Reuters