{"id":2625528,"date":"2026-07-06T12:37:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T16:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-admits-he-asked-fifa-to-look-at-baloguns-red-card\/"},"modified":"2026-07-06T12:37:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T16:37:50","slug":"trump-admits-he-asked-fifa-to-look-at-baloguns-red-card","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-admits-he-asked-fifa-to-look-at-baloguns-red-card\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump admits he asked FIFA to look at Balogun&#8217;s red card"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-admits-he-asked-fifa-to-look-at-baloguns-red-card%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2625528&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>President Donald Trump publicly commented on FIFA&#8217;s handling of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/corruption-allegations-fly-as-controversial-referee-decision-dents-us-world-cup-hopes\/\" title=\"&#039;Corruption&#039; Allegations Fly as Controversial Referee ... Dents US World Cup Hopes\">controversial <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/high-ranking-priest-resigns-over-grindr-data-linking-him-to-las-vegas-gay-bathhouse\/\" title=\"High-Ranking Priest Resigns Over Grindr Data Linking Him To Las Vegas\u2019 ...Gay Bathhouse\u2019\">red card<\/a><\/a> during a World Cup match, claiming he personally contacted FIFA after U.S. player Folarin Balogun was initially shown a red card that threatened his participation in the knockout stage. Trump watched the play and believed the ejection was unjustified, criticizing the referee and requesting a review, which led to FIFA suspending Balogun&#8217;s one-game ban, allowing him to play against Belgium. Trump emphasized that he did not pressure FIFA and believed the decision was made independently by a committee. The incident has sparked debate over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hunter-biden-investigation-irs-whistleblowers-reveal-five-years-of-doj-stonewalling\/\" title=\"IRS whistleblowers expose five years of DOJ obstruction in Hunter Biden investigation.\">potential political influence<\/a> on FIFA\u2019s disciplinary decisions, with European officials criticizing what they see as undermining the sport&#8217;s integrity. The Belgian soccer federation plans to appeal the decision, and the controversy has received backing from figures like Senator Ted Cruz. Additionally, Trump has maintained close ties with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who previously awarded Trump the FIFA Peace Prize and provided him with tickets to FIFA events. Trump is also expected to attend the upcoming World Cup final to present the trophy, highlighting his ongoing involvement in <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >global soccer affairs<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">President Donald Trump<\/a> said Monday that he personally reached out to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fifa\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4138\">FIFA<\/a> after U.S. striker Folarin Balogun was shown a red card that initially would have sidelined him for the Americans\u2019 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/world-cup\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1397\">Round of 16 match<\/a>, arguing Wednesday\u2019s play against Bosnia and Herzegovina never warranted an ejection.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he watched the play and concluded the ejection was unwarranted, calling the referee \u201cvery suspect\u201d because of his past, though he declined to elaborate on what he meant.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4636711\/watch-live-trump-accounts-launch\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>WATCH LIVE: Trump participates in launch of \u2018Trump accounts\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4636590\/burgum-nothing-i-agree-with-white-nationalist\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Burgum: \u2018Nothing I could possibly agree with\u2019 on white nationalist march<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4636515\/reflecting-pool-algae-pipes-burgum\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Reflecting Pool algae was \u2018in the pipes\u2019 Burgum says despite Trump blaming vandals<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI asked for a review,\u201d Trump said, adding that he believed the challenge \u201cwasn\u2019t a foul\u201d and \u201cwasn\u2019t even an infraction.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">President Donald Trump speaks about FIFA after ringing the opening bell for the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq in the Oval Office at the White House, Monday, July 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Mark Schiefelbein)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/AP26187546814205.jpg?w=696&#8243; height=&#8221;683&#8243; width=&#8221;1024&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Donald Trump speaks about FIFA after ringing the opening bell for the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq in the Oval Office at the White House, Monday, July 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Mark Schiefelbein)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump insisted he never pressured FIFA President Gianni Infantino to overturn the call, emphasizing that the governing body\u2019s decision was made independently.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI can\u2019t tell him what to do, and I don\u2019t believe he made the decision,\u201d Trump said. \u201cI think it was a committee that made the decision, and they made the right decision, because number one, it wasn\u2019t a foul, and you want to see a game with your best players.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The episode has ignited a broader controversy over the integrity of the tournament. Rather than focusing solely on the United States\u2019s matchup with Belgium, attention has shifted to whether political pressure influenced FIFA\u2019s disciplinary process.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The decision has drawn criticism from European soccer officials and others who argue FIFA undermined its own rules by reversing what is typically an automatic suspension. Instead of entering the knockout stage with momentum alone, the U.S. now faces questions about whether its path was altered by White House intervention.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf a phone call really is what explains this incomprehensible decision, it would amount to undermining the most basic rules of soccer and sports,\u201d Belgium\u2019s foreign minister Maxime Prevote said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Belgian soccer federation said it would appeal the decision, but there was no guarantee that a ruling would come before the game, which is set to begin at 8 p.m. Eastern in Seattle.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among those celebrating the outcome was <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ted-cruz\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"185\">Sen. Ted Cruz<\/a> (R-TX), who thanked Trump during the White House event.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOn behalf of all Americans, thank you for getting rid of that ridiculous red card,\u201d Cruz said. \u201cIt was spectacular. There was a reason the FIFA trophy sat here for as long as it did.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Infantino and Trump have close ties. In December, Infantino awarded Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/sports\/4636561\/folarin-balogun-us-belgium-world-cup\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4636561\">FOLARIN BALOGUN\u2019S 1-GAME BAN SUSPENDED BY FIFA, ALLOWING US FORWARD TO PLAY VS BELGIUM<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">New disclosure reports filed by Trump also show that Infantino gave him 10 tickets, valued at $15,000, to last July\u2019s FIFA Club World Cup at\u00a0MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Trump attended the match and joined Infantino on the field to present the trophy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump is also expected to be on hand for this year\u2019s World Cup finals game on July 19 and present the trophy to the winner, placing himself at the center of soccer\u2019s most-watched ceremony.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump personally contacted FIFA over Balogun&#8217;s red card<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2646,"featured_media":2625529,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/trump-balogun-collage-e1783352507213.jpg?1783338816&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[82267,9721,82268,33418,3634],"class_list":["post-2625528","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-balogun","tag-fifa","tag-red-card","tag-sports-controversy","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/trump-balogun-collage-e1783352507213.jpg?1783338816&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2625528","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2646"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2625528"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2625528\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2625532,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2625528\/revisions\/2625532"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2625529"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2625528"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2625528"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2625528"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}