Trump says he saw World Cup play that led to Folarin Balogun's suspension and spoke to FIFA president

Key Points:

• President Trump publicly disputed the red card given to U.S. soccer star Folarin Balogun during a match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, claiming the play was not a foul and describing the referee's call as questionable.
• Trump spoke directly with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, requesting a review of the red card decision, though he emphasized he did not instruct Infantino on how to act and did not take credit for the subsequent reversal.
• FIFA's Disciplinary Committee suspended Balogun's one-game ban and fined the U.S. Soccer Federation $40,000, citing specific circumstances and evidence while maintaining that the disciplinary process remains independent.
• Infantino confirmed receiving calls from various global leaders, including Trump, but stressed that FIFA's judicial bodies operate independently and that ongoing cases are decided by competent authorities.
• FIFA defended its decision as consistent with Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, highlighting that suspending disciplinary measures pending review is a balanced and previously used approach in football governance.