Trump admits call with Infantino over Balogun: I only asked for a review, not an order

President Donald Trump said on Monday that he had personally contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of the decision that gave a red card and a one-match suspension to U.S. national team star striker Folarin Balogun, an unusual intervention that has sparked fierce controversy at the World Cup.

On Sunday, FIFA announced that Balogun would be allowed to play in the round-of-16 clash against Belgium, scheduled for Monday evening, a development that triggered strong political reactions and raised doubts about the integrity of the tournament.

From the Oval Office, Trump said: “All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say, ‘You have to do this’”, adding that he “didn’t think it was a foul.” According to him, the episode was simply “two guys running at full speed who happened to collide with each other.”

These remarks are the first detailed account Trump has given of his conversation with Infantino.

He again insisted: “I didn’t tell him what to do, I can’t tell him what to do,” adding that an independent panel “made the right decision.”

Trump also cast doubt on the referee’s impartiality, describing him as “a little suspicious” and urging reporters to “check his background.”