US President Donald Trump, who called FIFA and requested the red… (красный · карточка · трамп)
US President Donald Trump, who called FIFA and requested the red card be revoked from Nigeria's top scorer Falao Balogun on Monday, July 6, stated that he did not know it meant disqualifying the player for the next match.
Consensus
- Folarin Balogun received a direct red card during the USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina match in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on July 1.
- The red card was issued after Balogun stepped on the ankle of Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemović at minute 64.
- Balogun's team, the United States, won the match 2:0.
- FIFA's disciplinary committee suspended the one-match ban with a one-year probationary period on July 5.
- The suspension allowed Balogun to play in the Round of 8 match against Belgium.
Points of divergence
- Trump claimed he did not know that red card meant a player could not participate in the next game, and expressed disbelief at punishing a player for a match not yet played. — vesti
- Trump called FIFA directly to request the reversal of Balogun's red card. — vm
- Trump confirmed he spoke with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and stated that he had not known how a red card worked before this incident, despite claiming to be knowledgeable about sports. — fontanka
Coverage (3 sources)
- Didn't think it meant so much: Trump didn't know how the red card works — Вести
- Trump claims he didn't know the meaning of a red card in football — Вечерняя Москва
- Trump Confirms Call with Infantino and Admits He Didn't Know About the Red Card — Фонтанка