Trump’s Appeal Over Red Card Impacts USA Versus Belgium

On the first weekend of July, Donald Trump appealed to Fifa’s president Gianni Infantino about the red card given to the US team’s striker Folarin Balogun. Belgium, enraged at the overturn of the red card, played fiercely and defeated the US team 4-1.

Balogun received a red card for a challenge on Tarik Muharemovic, the center back for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Brazilian referee Rapheal Claus watched the VAR, a recording of the foul. After consideration, the referee ruled it as a serious intentional foul meant to cause harm and therefore sent Balogun off the pitch. A red card in soccer causes the player to sit out another match or more if deemed necessary. Balogun was set to not play in the game against Belgium.

There was a lot of controversy over Claus’s decision to give a red card. Many professionals said that slowing down the video of the foul makes the foul seem more extreme and harmful. Others said that Claus’s decision was necessary as Balogun scraped the calf of the opposing player and caused him to twist his ankle.

Trump intervened and appealed to Fifa’s president about this issue. The Fifa president then overturned the referee’s decision and removed the red card from Balogun. Balogun then played in the next game against Belgium.

Belgium’s coach Rudi Garcia said at a news conference Sunday. “I didn’t know that at the World Cup, the 5th of July is actually the first of April — it’s April Fools’ Day.”

The angry Belgium team played strongly against the US. Frustrated at the appeal to let Balogun play in the next game, Charles De Ketelaere scored two goals, and Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku each scored one. Belgium ended up beating the US decisively 4 to 1.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/05/us/politics/trump-fifa-balogun-world-cup.html