Trump says he saw play that led to red card and asked FIFA president for review
President Trump said he spoke to FIFA president Gianni Infantino after seeing the play and asked for a review.
Updated on: July 6, 2026 / 12:28 PM EDT / CBS News
The U.S. team's striker was given a red card during the team's Wednesday match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, eliminating him from the next game. Balogun was penalized for stepping on the right ankle of Tarik MuharemoviΔ of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
FIFA reversed the one-match suspension, although that reversal is facing criticism and an appeal. The president told reporters in the Oval Office Monday that he "saw the play," and Balogun's move didn't constitute a foul or an infraction. Mr. Trump said he talked with Infantino about the incident.
"I'm a person that loves sports and was a good athlete," he said. "And I understand sports really well. Really well. And that wasn't a foul. That wasn't even an infraction. That was two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other. You can't take your foot and properly place it on somebody else's foot when you're going β no, these were two great athletes that got tangled up."
"And this referee, who is a little bit suspect if you check his, if you check his past," the president said. "I don't want to say that because I don't like to create controversy, but very suspect. If you like, I'll provide you with the past. He made a call that nobody could believe. Even people on the other side, they said 'We got lucky.'"