FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s highly public friendliness toward Donald Trump has prompted some American soccer supporters to jokingly urge the President to step in after Folarin Balogun’s costly red card.
Balogun is set to sit out the United States’ Round of 16 clash with Belgium on Monday in Seattle, following a controversial challenge on Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic during the Americans’ 2-0 victory at Levi’s Stadium on Wednesday.
While the incident initially looked like a genuine contest for a loose 50-50 ball in the second half, VAR footage showed Balogun’s studs dragging down Muharemovic’s leg, calf and foot, leaving the Serie A player visibly hurt.
“If Trump wants to win an illegal third election in a landslide he’ll call Infantino right now and get the red card rescinded,” podcaster Manny Fidel posted on X.
However, just as U.S. law bars Trump from seeking a third term in the White House, FIFA’s rules leave no avenue for appealing red cards. There is also no known precedent for Infantino personally overturning such a decision.
Then again, there was no precedent for the FIFA Peace Prize either — yet that did not prevent Infantino from creating the award and presenting it to Trump in December.
Folarin Balogun (20) brings down Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic (4), a challenge that led to a red card
Muharemovic was left in clear discomfort after Balogun’s challenge on Wednesday
Balogun was consoled by Gio Reyna (left) and Timothy Weah (right) after his red card
‘Donald Trump needs to use his FIFA Peace Prize to pressure FIFA into rescinding the ultimate birthright citizen Flo Balogun’s red card so he can play against Belgium,’ author Steve Magness wrote on X.
One fan joked: ‘If Trump can’t get this red card for Balogun rescinded what did that FIFA Peace Prize even mean???’
Another referenced Trump’s calls for his former Vice President to illegally overturn the 2020 election results: ‘Balogun can play on Monday if Mike Pence has the courage.’
With some it was difficult to tell if they were joking about their hopes to see Trump intervene.
‘Listen,’ one fan began, ‘the only positive thing I could ever say about Trump is that I bet he could somehow get Infantino to overturn that Balogun suspension.’
That may not be a huge stretch. Infantino already broke protocol this year by allowing Trump to present the World Cup winners with the trophy after the upcoming tournament finale.
Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino are pictured at the onset of their bromance in October
Trump draped his own medal around his neck after winning the FIFA Peace Prize in December
Infantino was previously spotted wearing a hat emblazed with ’45-47′ in reference to the 45th and 47th US President, Trump. And on Wednesday, the FIFA President watched the US win alongside Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, Trump’s personal friend and business partner.
One Trump supporter suggested he should simply pardon Balogun, like he’s done with some 1,700 individuals, many of whom made substantial donations to the President or have partnered with him in business.
‘President Trump announcing he’s overruling the awful FIFA official’s call and pardoning Balogun for his red card under his presidential pardon powers to allow him to play against Belgium would break the Internet,’ Fox News pundit and White House supporter Clay Travis added.
Both Travis and Trump took some criticism after America’s two goals were scored by players with dual citizenship on Wednesday.
Earlier in the week, Travis slammed the Supreme Court’s decision upholding birthright citizenship, which is what allowed the Brooklyn-born, UK-raised Balogun to play for Team USA in the first place.
Wednesday, Infantino watched the US win alongside commerce secretary Howard Lutnick
So, while Travis was eager to get in on the red-card controversy over Balogun on Wednesday night, many were quick to remind him of his and Trump’s stance on birthright citizenship.
‘If Clay Travis had his way, Balogun (who made it 1-0) wouldn’t be in the country,’ read a post from an account dedicated to mocking the Fox pundit. ‘He’s here because of birthright citizenship.’
And as several others pointed out, Team USA’s other goal scorer, Malik Tillman, was actually born in Germany to an American servicemen and German mother. Trump has famously come out against many forms of immigration and has even pushed to denaturalize some migrants who have obtained citizenship.
