Donald Trump has sent a personal thank you to FIFA ahead of USA’s round of 16 clash with Belgium, citing how a ‘great injustice’ has been reversed by world football
Donald Trump thanked FIFA for suspending Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban at the 2026 World Cup – a move which will allow him to play for the USA in their round of 16 clash with Belgium. The midfielder picked up a red card during his nation’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday as a result of scraping his studs down the back of Tarik Muharemovic’s calf.
However, he will not serve the mandatory one-match ban from his sending-off, after FIFA made the peculiar decision to suspend it for a year. A statement from world football read: “In line with article 27 of the Fifa disciplinary code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year.
“If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”
That news was music to President Trump’s ears, as he quickly took to Truth Social to thank FIFA for their decision. He wrote: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
It means that Balogun will be able to take part in his nation’s all-important round of 16 clash with Belgium, which is slated for the early hours of Tuesday morning in Seattle. It comes after US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, was one figure who urged the one-match ban to be reviewed.
Speaking about the match during a news conference, he said: “It was great. They got screwed with that red card. There needs to be an appeal process for that. It’s probably too late for that.”
Meanwhile, USA head coach, Mauricio Pochettino told the media: “For me? Never a red card. Never an intention to step on the player. It was a normal action in football that happened by accident.”
As per the Athletic, Chris Richards has spoken about the moment that Balogun discovered that he will be available for selection next week. Richards told the publication: “Ultimately we found out on social media.”
On what Balogun said in reaction, Richards added: “Lit, you know?” as he chuckled. It comes as there is some wiggle room in FIFA’s disciplinary code regarding player suspensions.
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It states: “The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.
“If the person benefiting from a suspended sanction commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked by the judicial body and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”
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