{"id":579,"date":"2026-07-06T01:51:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T20:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=579"},"modified":"2026-07-06T01:51:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T20:51:11","slug":"trump-called-fifa-president-asking-to-review-folarin-baloguns-red-card-suspension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=579","title":{"rendered":"Trump called FIFA president asking to review Folarin Balogun&#8217;s red card suspension"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<p>President Donald Trump reached out to FIFA president Gianni Infantino directly to ask him to review the suspension of U.S. men\u2019s national team breakout star Folarin Balogun following a controversial red card in the United States\u2019 Round of 32 win, the New York Times reports.<\/p>\n<p>FIFA <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/05\/sports\/folarin-balogun-available-for-usmnt-vs-belgium-in-stunning-world-cup-twist\/\">suspended the suspension on Sunday<\/a>, allowing Balogun to play in the World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>Balogun had been given a red card for a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic during the United States\u2019 victory, which meant, in line with Article 10.5 of FIFA\u2019s rules for the World Cup, the striker would be suspended for the next match.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>FIFA <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/05\/sports\/why-fifa-allowed-usmnts-folarin-balogun-to-play-vs-belgium-despite-red-card\/\">cited Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code<\/a>, which states that the \u201cjudicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"39895556\"><br \/>\n\t<default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><default:path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/default:svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img style=\"aspect-ratio:1.49926794;display:block\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"39895556\" width=\"885\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2230636191.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"President Donald Trump (c.) with FIFA president Gianni Infantino (r.) in the Oval Office.\" class=\"wp-image-39895556\" 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https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2230636191.jpg?resize=144,96&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 144w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2230636191.jpg?resize=107,71&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 107w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2230636191.jpg?resize=93,62&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 93w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2230636191.jpg?resize=84,56&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 84w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2230636191.jpg?resize=60,40&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 60w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2230636191.jpg?resize=105,70&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 105w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2230636191.jpg?resize=81,54&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 81w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2230636191.jpg?resize=200,133&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2230636191.jpg?resize=231,154&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2230636191.jpg?resize=322,215&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2230636191.jpg?resize=662,441&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 662w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2230636191.jpg?resize=90,60&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 90w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2230636191.jpg?resize=120,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 120w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2230636191.jpg?resize=1200,800&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2230636191.jpg?resize=1038,692&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1038w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2230636191.jpg?resize=87,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2230636191.jpg?resize=50,33&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 885px) 100vw, 885px\"\/><figcaption>President Donald Trump (c.) with FIFA president Gianni Infantino (r.) in the Oval Office. <span class=\"credit\">AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>It also states that by \u201csuspending the implementation of the sanction, the judicial body subjects the person sanctioned to a probationary period of one to four years.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trump took to Truth Social <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/05\/sports\/trump-reacts-to-folarin-balogun-shocker-with-usmnt-star-playing-vs-belgium\/\">to applaud FIFA\u2019s decision<\/a> after the news was announced.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThank you to FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice,\u201d the president, who has developed an incredibly close relationship with Infantino leading up to the World Cup, wrote.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>FIFA said in their statement that Balogun\u2019s suspension was suspended for a \u201cpobationary period\u201d of a year.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"39895560\"><br \/>\n\t<default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><default:path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/default:svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img style=\"aspect-ratio:1.36533333;display:block\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"39895560\" width=\"806\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/seattle-washington-u-s-folarin-133402899.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Folarin Balogun all smiles at USMNT practice on July 5, 2026.\" class=\"wp-image-39895560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/seattle-washington-u-s-folarin-133402899.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 4933w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/seattle-washington-u-s-folarin-133402899.jpg?resize=300,220&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/seattle-washington-u-s-folarin-133402899.jpg?resize=768,562&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 768w, 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https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/seattle-washington-u-s-folarin-133402899.jpg?resize=82,60&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 82w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/seattle-washington-u-s-folarin-133402899.jpg?resize=109,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 109w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/seattle-washington-u-s-folarin-133402899.jpg?resize=1200,879&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/seattle-washington-u-s-folarin-133402899.jpg?resize=79,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 79w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/seattle-washington-u-s-folarin-133402899.jpg?resize=213,156&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 213w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/seattle-washington-u-s-folarin-133402899.jpg?resize=50,37&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 806px) 100vw, 806px\"\/><figcaption>Folarin Balogun all smiles at USMNT practice on July 5, 2026. <span class=\"credit\">Blake Dahlin-Imagn Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cIf Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement,\u201d FIFA said in its statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The decision to allow Balogun is a massive break for the United States, which is looking to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>They face Belgium on Monday in Seattle and Balogun is the USMNT\u2019s top scorer with three goals this tournament.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Balogun ability to play has enraged Belgium, which released a strong statement in which the country\u2019s football federation said it was \u201castonished\u201d by the ruling.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options,\u201d the Royal Belgian Football Association said in a statement.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>President Donald Trump reached out to FIFA president Gianni Infantino directly to ask him to review the suspension of U.S. men\u2019s national team breakout star Folarin Balogun following a controversial red card in the United States\u2019 Round of 32 win, the New York Times reports. FIFA suspended the suspension on Sunday, allowing Balogun to play&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":580,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/trump-fifa.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&1783269898&w=1200","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-579","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/579","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=579"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/579\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/580"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=579"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=579"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}