Trump admits requesting FIFA review of Balogun red card from Bosnia match

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump said he believed the dismissal was unjustified and insisted he had only requested a review of the incident, not attempted to influence FIFA's final decision.

“All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say, ‘You have to do this,’” Trump said from the Oval Office, adding that he “didn’t think it was a foul.” He referred to the incident as “two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other.”

“He didn’t do anything wrong,” Trump said of the US player.

Balogun was sent off following a challenge involving Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic during the United States' knockout victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The red card initially carried an automatic one-match suspension, ruling the striker out of the Round of 16 clash with Belgium.

However, FIFA later suspended the sanction, making Balogun eligible to play against Belgium. The decision sparked criticism and renewed debate over the independence of FIFA's disciplinary process, particularly after reports emerged that Trump had spoken directly with Infantino before the ruling was overturned.

The controversy has also drawn attention in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as the incident that triggered the suspension occurred during the World Cup match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina. While the result of that match remains unchanged, the disciplinary decision has become one of the tournament's most debated off-field issues.

Trump maintained that his intervention was aimed solely at ensuring fairness and praised FIFA's decision to review the case, saying it was important for the United States to have its best players available in the knockout stages.

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