FIFA Reverses Rare World Cup Suspension
FIFA has overturned the World Cup suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun, making him available for the team’s match against Belgium. The decision came after President Donald Trump personally contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked him to review the case. According to people familiar with the discussion, the call took place only hours after Balogun received a red card during the United States’ previous match.
A Highly Unusual Decision
The reversal is considered extremely rare. FIFA has not canceled a World Cup suspension for a red card since 1962. Normally, players sent off during a World Cup match must serve an automatic suspension, and FIFA rules generally do not allow appeals against such decisions.
Why the Appeal Was Made
Following the dismissal, senior Trump administration officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Andrew Giuliani, worked with lawyers to support the U.S. Soccer Federation’s efforts to challenge the decision. U.S. Soccer argued that referees should not have relied on slow-motion video replay when deciding to issue the red card. However, video review is a standard part of modern football and has frequently been used to confirm red-card decisions.
Referee Allegations Raised
During the discussions, Trump also mentioned past accusations against referee Raphael Claus after information was shared by hedge fund manager and U.S. Soccer donor Scott Goodwin. The allegations claimed Claus had previously been involved in match-fixing in Brazil through questionable red cards. However, both Brazilian authorities and FIFA have investigated those claims and found no evidence of misconduct. Claus only showed Balogun the red card after reviewing footage recommended by the video assistant referee team.
