Trump Confirms Role in Balogun Red Card Reversal; Belgium to Test Decision

European football's governing body, UEFA, on Monday strongly criticised FIFA's decision to suspend the World Cup ban imposed on US forward Folarin Balogun, accusing the world governing body of "crossing a red line" after President Donald Trump personally intervened in the case.

The move triggered widespread criticism and placed FIFA's disciplinary procedures under intense scrutiny, with Belgium — the United States' opponents in Monday's Round-of-16 clash — announcing that it would challenge Balogun's eligibility for the match.

The controversy has overshadowed the sporting narrative ahead of the knockout fixture, shifting attention from tactics and team selection to the relationship between football's governing authorities and political influence.

Trump, who urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review Balogun's dismissal, defended his intervention, saying it was unfair for one of the United States' top players to miss such an important match.

"We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision," UEFA said in a statement, adding that FIFA's ruling had "crossed a red line."

"When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined," UEFA added.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said: "All I did was ask for a review because I didn't think it was a foul."

Belgium challenges Balogun's eligibility

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it was "astonished" by FIFA's decision to make Balogun available for selection and confirmed it would formally contest the player's eligibility.

"The RBFA has still not received any decision or explanation from FIFA regarding this matter," the association said. "It therefore has no alternative but to challenge the player's eligibility for the upcoming match."

It added that, irrespective of the result against the United States, it would continue to defend "the fundamental principles of ethics, fair competition and the interests of football as a whole."

The criticism was echoed by several prominent figures in football.

Former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, who is in talks to become Germany's next head coach, condemned the decision.

"This is our sport, not theirs," Klopp said. "If Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino really sorted this out between themselves, it is madness. It calls everything into question. These two people, who know nothing about football, should have absolutely nothing to do with this."

The president of Germany's football association (DFB) warned that "the integrity of the competition and the credibility of FIFA are at stake," while the European Commissioner for Sport cautioned against "the weaponisation of sport for political purposes."

The controversy dominated sports coverage and television debate following Sunday's announcement, with commentators, former players and analysts divided over whether FIFA had corrected an injustice or undermined its own disciplinary system.

FIFA did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment regarding either the decision or Trump's conversation with Infantino.

The incident has also revived criticism over FIFA's relationship with politics after Infantino attended President Trump's Board of Peace meeting in February, prompting questions over the organisation's political neutrality.

'Great injustice'

Balogun, who has scored three goals for the United States during the tournament, was sent off following a VAR review after dragging his studs down the back of Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic's leg during the Americans' Round-of-32 victory.

The dismissal carried an automatic one-match suspension, ruling him out of the Belgium fixture. FIFA later suspended the ban for a one-year probationary period while allowing the red card itself to remain on Balogun's disciplinary record.

"Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice," Trump wrote on Truth Social, while the White House celebrated Balogun's reinstatement with a post on X reading: "USA-USA-USA."

England manager Thomas Tuchel said Balogun's challenge did not warrant a red card but questioned the process that led to the suspension being lifted, particularly after England defender Jarell Quansah had been sent off during Sunday's 3-2 victory over Mexico.

"Who overturns this decision, and when? And on what grounds? How far does this go now? This is strange for me," Tuchel told reporters at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium.

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter also criticised the decision.

"Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies," he said. "If a US President intervenes with the FIFA President and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match, the question is unavoidable: Quo vadis, FIFA? Football must never become a playground for political power."