Despite Donald Trump making a phone call asking for FIFA to review USA striker Folarin Balogun’s red card, the football governing body has decided to hit the player with a fine
USA striker Folarin Balogun has reportedly been hit with a $40,000 (around £30,000) fine just hours before the World Cup clash with Belgium despite his red card being suspended.
According to Sky News Sports Correspondent Rob Harris, FIFA fined Balogun over his World Cup red card and its half payable by U.S. Soccer Federation.
Balogun’s red card has became a controversial talking point after US President Donald Trump admitted he called on FIFA to review the red card decision with a phone call.
The world governing body announced on Sunday (July 5) that the automatic one-match ban for Balogun’s dismissal against Bosnia and Herzegovina had been suspended, with the Americans’ last-16 opponents, Belgium, appealing – unsuccessfully – against the decision.
President Trump has now stated he asked for the dismissal to be looked at, and said he would have felt Monday night’s match against Belgium would have been “rigged” if Balogun had not been able to play.
Infantino issued a statement on Monday evening saying the decision had been taken by its independent disciplinary committee, but earlier Trump revealed he had lobbied Infantino.
“I saw the play… that (challenge by Balogun) wasn’t a foul, that wasn’t even an infraction, that was two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other,” he said.
“These were two great athletes that got tangled up and this referee, who is a little bit suspect, if you check his past, he made a call that nobody could believe. He (Balogun) didn’t do anything wrong and he’s our best player, or one of our best players… and he (the referee) gave him a red card.
“It’s very unfair, you can’t do that. So, yes, I asked for a review by FIFA. I spoke to a man who’s highly respected (Infantino) and by the way, whose level of respect has gone up tenfold.”
The referee Trump was referring to was Brazil’s Raphael Claus. Trump added: “This game (against Belgium) would have a big mark on it if we lost (without Balogun).
“No matter what happened, you have to let (teams) use their best players, and the game (against Belgium) is going to be amazing. And we’re going to have a full team, and Belgium is going to have a full team. And you know what? If (Belgium) beat us, then they can be really proud.
“The other way (with Balogun banned) – if they beat us, we’ll say it was… I’d say it was rigged, just like the election was rigged in 2020, but I won’t get into that.”
The Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it had been kept in the dark by FIFA about the reasons behind the suspension of Balogun’s ban, but appealed against the decision.
However, the FIFA Appeal Committee said the RBFA’s case was “inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision”.
The RBFA said in a further statement on Monday evening that it “has informed the United States Soccer Federation that it contests the eligibility of the player, should the player be listed on the referee’s teamsheet”.
It added: “This leaves all further actions open.”