Trump pressures FIFA over Balogun red card before USA-Belgium World Cup tie
USA squad
- Selected
-
2 Sergino DEST Defender
-
3 Chris RICHARDS Defender
-
4 Tyler ADAMS Midfielder
-
5 Antonee ROBINSON Defender
-
8 Weston McKENNIE Midfielder
-
10 Christian PULISIC Forward
-
13 Tim REAM C Defender
-
16 Alex FREEMAN Defender
-
17 Malik TILLMAN Midfielder
-
20 Folarin BALOGUN Forward
-
24 Matt FREESE Goalkeeper
-
1 Matt TURNER Goalkeeper
-
6 Auston TRUSTY Defender
-
7 Giovanni REYNA Midfielder
-
9 Ricardo PEPI Forward
-
11 Brenden AARONSON Forward
-
12 Miles ROBINSON Defender
-
14 Sebastian BERHALTER Midfielder
-
18 Max ARFSTEN Defender
-
19 Haji WRIGHT Forward
-
21 Timothy WEAH Forward
-
22 Mark McKENZIE Defender
-
23 Joe SCALLY Defender
-
25 Chris BRADY Goalkeeper
-
26 Alex ZENDEJAS Forward
- Full squad
-
15 Cristian ROLDAN Midfielder
Belgium squad
- Selected
-
1 Thibaut COURTOIS Goalkeeper
-
4 Brandon MECHELE Defender
-
5 Maxim DE CUYPER Defender
-
8 Youri TIELEMANS C Midfielder
-
10 Leandro TROSSARD Forward
-
14 Dodi LUKEBAKIO Forward
-
17 Charles DE KETELAERE Forward
-
21 Timothy CASTAGNE Defender
-
23 Nicolas RASKIN Midfielder
-
24 Amadou ONANA Midfielder
-
25 Nathan NGOY Defender
-
2 Zeno DEBAST Defender
-
3 Arthur THEATE Defender
-
6 Axel WITSEL Midfielder
-
7 Kevin DE BRUYNE Midfielder
-
9 Romelu LUKAKU Forward
-
11 Jeremy DOKU Forward
-
12 Senne LAMMENS Goalkeeper
-
13 Mike PENDERS Goalkeeper
-
15 Thomas MEUNIER Defender
-
16 Koni DE WINTER Defender
-
18 Joaquin SEYS Defender
-
19 Diego MOREIRA Midfielder
-
20 Hans VANAKEN Midfielder
-
22 Alexis SAELEMAEKERS Midfielder
-
26 Matias FERNANDEZ-PARDO Forward
President Trump intervened with FIFA regarding a red card issued to American footballer Folarin Balogun, who was suspended following the U.S. team's victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina for stepping on an opponent's ankle. The intervention came before a scheduled USA-Belgium World Cup match, following Belgium's appeal of FIFA's decision to allow Balogun to participate in the fixture.
Trump's direct pressure on the international sports body provoked contrasting responses. Multiple journalists and political commentators expressed concern about the appropriateness of executive intervention in FIFA's governance and decision-making processes. Conversely, some television personalities and public figures publicly supported Trump's efforts to advocate for the American player. The incident raised broader questions about the proper relationship between political leadership and independent sports organisations.
- President Trump pressed FIFA to address a red card suspension affecting American footballer Folarin Balogun ahead of an upcoming USA-Belgium World Cup match
- Many journalists and political figures criticised Trump's direct involvement in an international sports body's decision-making
- Some prominent public figures supported Trump's advocacy for the American athlete
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Originally published by Fox News as “Media figures melt down over Trump involvement with FIFA as US star Folarin Balogun set to play”.