U.S. President Donald Trump has denied allegations that he pressured FIFA to overturn the one-match suspension imposed on United States striker Folarin Balogun, insisting that he merely requested a review of the controversial decision.
The controversy arose after Balogun was sent off during the United States’ 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32.
The forward, who has scored three goals at the tournament, received a red card following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review for a challenge on Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemović, resulting in an automatic one-match suspension that would have ruled him out of the United States’ Round of 16 clash against Belgium.
However, FIFA announced yesterday that it had suspended the implementation of the ban under Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, making Balogun eligible to face Belgium after reviewing the incident.
The decision, which came after Trump asked FIFA President Gianni Infantino to reconsider the incident, sparked criticism across the football world, with the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) challenging the ruling and UEFA describing the reversal as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”
Responding to allegations that he influenced FIFA’s decision, Trump said in a video circulated on social media on Monday that he only requested a review of the incident and did not pressure football’s governing body.
“All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say, ‘You have to do this.’ This man is smart and tough, Gianni Infantino. I feel we have all the best players on the field,” Trump said.
Explaining why he contacted Infantino, the U.S. president argued that Balogun’s challenge did not warrant a red card.
“I’ve never seen anything like it. I saw the play… that wasn’t a foul. That wasn’t even an infraction. That was two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other… So yes, I asked for a review by FIFA,” he said.
Trump maintained that the final decision rested entirely with FIFA, dismissing suggestions that he interfered in the disciplinary process.
Meanwhile, FIFA’s Appeal Committee rejected a request by the Royal Belgian Football Association to challenge the decision, ruling that the body had no legal standing to appeal.
“The request was rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision,” FIFA said in a statement, adding that the chairperson of the Appeal Committee, Neil Eggleston, did not participate in the decision.
Earlier, the Belgian FA condemned FIFA’s handling of the matter, arguing that the reversal undermined confidence in the disciplinary process ahead of its Round of 16 meeting with the United States.
The controversy also drew criticism from the chair of the UK’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage, who warned that FIFA risked casting a “dark shadow” over the World Cup if it failed to explain the basis for lifting Balogun’s suspension.
“For sport to mean anything, its rules and laws must be applied equally to all teams. FIFA needs to come out urgently and explain the basis of its decision and address the suggestions that there may have been political interference in the process,” she said.
The incident has fuelled debate over the independence of FIFA’s disciplinary system, with football stakeholders divided over whether Balogun should have been cleared to play in one of the tournament’s biggest knockout fixtures.