FIFA Faces International Storm Over US Striker Reinstatement After Trump Intervention

A decision to reinstate a United States striker after intervention from US President Donald Trump has plunged FIFA into an international storm, with Europe's football governing body accusing the organisation of crossing a "red line" and critics warning the integrity of the World Cup is at stake.

Mr Trump revealed on Monday, local time, that he personally asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review the red card shown to US forward Folarin Balogun during his side's win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

FIFA later suspended the automatic one-match band that would have ruled Balogun out of Tuesday's round of 16 clash with Belgium.

The extraordinary reversal prompted an angry backlash led by Belgium, as well as UEFA and leading figures across the world of football.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Mr Trump defended his role in the matter, insisting he had only asked FIFA to review the decision rather than pressure it to overturn the ban.

The US president said the incident that led to Balogun's dismissal the red card was simply a case of two athletes colliding and raised questioned the referee's decision.

"I didn't think it was a foul," Mr Trump said.

"I thought it was two great athletes that crashed into each other and got entangled."

He acknowledged he did not initially know what a red card was or that it carried an automatic one-match suspension. When he learned Balogun would miss the knockout match against Belgium, Mr Trump said he decided to step in.

He also criticised the use of video review to issue the red card, arguing that slowed-down replays can make challenges appear more severe than they are.

"Belgium has got a great team," Mr Trump said.

He said FIFA made a "really brilliant decision" by ultimately suspending the ban.

"I think the referee's call was horrible," Mr Trump said.

Mr Infantino said FIFA's judicial bodies operated “independently and autonomously” and that he had told Mr Trump the Balogun case was subject to an ongoing legal process.

"During our conversation I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA's independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies," Infantino said in a statement.

"That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold."

International backlash

Despite FIFA's assurances, Europe's footballing body UEFA issued a scathing response.

"We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision," UEFA said in a statement on Monday, adding that it "crossed a red line".

The intervention also drew condemnation from some of football's most prominent figures.

"This is our sport, not theirs," said former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

"These two people [Trump and Infantino], who know nothing about football, should have absolutely nothing to do with this."

The head of the German football association said the "integrity of the competition and the credibility of FIFA are at stake".

As criticism spilled over into the political sphere, the European Commissioner For Sport warned against "the weaponisation of sport for political purposes".

Balogun, who has scored three goals for the US in the tournament, was sent off after a VAR review for dragging his cleats down the back of defender Tarik Muharemovic's leg and onto his foot during their win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32.

The red card carried an automatic one-match suspension, ruling Balogun out of the clash with Belgium. FIFA instead suspended the ban for a one-year probationary period without rescinding the red card itself.

"Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice," Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social while the White House celebrated Balogun's reinstatement in the squad with a post on X saying: "USA-USA-USA."

Even former FIFA boss Sepp Blatter, who stepped down in 2015 amid corruption allegations, joined the criticism.

"If a US President intervenes with the FIFA President — and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match — the question is unavoidable: Quo vadis, FIFA? Football must never become a playground for political power."