Donald Trump has described the World Cup referee who dismissed USMNT forward Folarin Balogun as “suspect,” speaking after his intervention helped lead to the striker’s one-match suspension being overturned.
Addressing the issue at the White House on Monday, the President defended the highly unusual move and said he had not pressured FIFA president Gianni Infantino to reverse Balogun’s ban during their phone call.
The decision has triggered anger in Belgium, the United States’ next opponent, with officials filing a last-minute appeal to have the suspension restored just hours before kickoff in Seattle.
Trump, however, argued that the last-16 World Cup tie would have been “rigged” if Balogun had been forced to sit out, while also criticizing Brazilian referee Raphael Claus, who showed the red card.
“Yeah, I did, I spoke to Gianni. I asked for a review by FIFA,” Trump said. “That’s all I did. And, you know, again, I’m good at this stuff. That wasn’t a foul. That wasn’t even an infraction. That was two guys running full speed who happened to crash into each other.”
“You can’t properly place your foot on somebody else’s foot when you’re going full speed,” he continued. “No, these were two great athletes who got tangled up. And this referee, who is a little bit suspect — if you check his past. I don’t want to say that because I don’t like to create controversy, but very suspect. If you’d like, I’ll provide you with his past.”
Donald Trump has addressed his role in the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun’s red card
Trump claimed Brazilian referee Raphael Claus, who sent Balogun off, had a “suspect” record
Trump insisted he didn’t force FIFA president Gianni Infantino to overturn the red card
Claus was once accused of match-fixing in 2023 in Brazil but was never charged with any wrongdoing and there is no suggestion of any type of allegation aimed at Claus in this World Cup.
‘Firstly, it wasn’t a foul,’ Trump added. ‘And then you have to look at the person who made the decision. The game tonight is going to be amazing. We are going to have a full team and Belgium is going to have a full team. And you know what, if they beat us they can be really proud.
‘This game would have a big mark on it. The other way, if they beat us I would say it is rigged, just like the election was rigged in 2020. I think they made a brilliant decision, I thought the referee’s decision was horrible. Nobody talks about that. They talk about the red card like it was fine.’
Balogun, USA’s top scorer in the tournament with three goals, was given a straight red card during the USA’s 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the last 32 – a decision at the time that was criticized for being wrong.
He tangled with Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic and his leg raked down Muharemovic’s calf while he was struggling to balance and jostling to win possession of the ball.
Trump continued: ‘He (Balogun) didn’t do anything wrong, and he’s our best player, or one of our best players, a very vital player and they gave him a red card.
‘I didn’t think it meant much. Then I started hearing that it means you can’t play in the next game, at least in the next game.
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‘That’s one thing, to penalize somebody for the game. But how do you penalize them for a game that hasn’t been played yet? It’s very unfair. You can’t do that.’
Belgium have appealed to get USA striker Folarin Balogun re-banned for their last-16 game
Balogun was sent off for a tackle during their 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina
Trump insisted he didn’t force Infantino to make Balogun available.
‘I didn’t say you have to do this. Gianni is a smart, tough man and his stock is going through the roof,’ Trump said.
‘I didn’t know what the hell a red card was. When I found out I said “you gotta be kidding”. I said wow, that’s a lot of power, that’s terrible. But then I lookd at his past and it wasn’t so great,
‘I didn’t tell him (Infantino) what to do, I can’t tell him what to do.’
Ironically, Balogun qualifies to play for the United States due to ‘birthright citizenship’ – a rule Trump has wanted to overturn.
His heavily pregnant mother was stopped from boarding a flight out of the United States when she was heavily pregnant and Balogun was then born in Brooklyn, New York.
After FIFA kicked back Balogun’s ban on Sunday, Trump, who was awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize by Infantino last year, wrote on Truth Social: ‘Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP.’
Infantino was sat next to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick during the game in the San Francisco Bay where Balogun was sent off.
The United States are trying to reach the World Cup for the first time since 2002 by beating Belgium, with many considering Monday night’s game the biggest ever in US soccer.
Trump praised Infantino after the red card was overturned and called him a ‘tough man’
Trump is not expected to attend. Despite going to multiple major US sporting events since beginning his second term as President, he has not made it to a World Cup game yet.
He is, however, set to attend the final on July 19 with Infantino saying recently that he and Trump will hand the trophy over to the winner ‘together’.
Infantino, speaking to Fox before Trump’s call about Balogun’s red card, said: ‘We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together.’
